The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called for increased support to enable the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to carry out its mandate effectively at the nation’s seaports, citing challenges the agency faces in accessing port terminals for enforcement activities.

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, made the call while commending NESREA for its crucial environmental enforcement efforts during a courtesy visit by the agency to the NSC headquarters in Lagos.

Akutah also highlighted the economic vision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, particularly in promoting sustainable management of ocean resources.

He urged NESREA to ratify and domesticate relevant international agreements for mutual national benefit.

Akutah stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration, advocating for synergy among government institutions over antagonism in the execution of their mandates.

On his part, the Acting Director of NESREA’s Lagos Liaison Office, Dr. Jonathan Dajel, called for a strategic partnership with the NSC in its capacity as the ports’ economic regulator.

He reiterated the challenges NESREA faces in accessing port terminals and stressed the agency’s responsibility in enforcing environmental standards.

Dajel also noted that Nigeria is a signatory to several international environmental conventions and underscored NESREA’s role in issuing Ballast Water Management Certificates to regulate marine pollution in line with global practices.