In a sustained drive to fuel economic growth, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Abuja Liaison Office recently hosted its high-impact seminar, ‘From Port to Prosperity.’ By uniting key stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory to tackle trade expansion and maritime efficiency, the Council is actively repositioning Nigeria as a formidable global maritime hub.
Rebecca Adamu, Head of Public Relations for the NSC, highlighted that the seminar successfully united a “Who’s Who” of the trade industry. Bringing together powerhouses like the Nigeria Customs Service, CBN, ECOWAS, and AfCFTA representatives, the event underscored a unified mission: leveraging strategic partnerships to unlock Nigeria’s maritime potential.
A diverse assembly of high-level stakeholders took the stage to drive the maritime conversation forward.
The session was headlined by Oyinloye Adeola Meshack (representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy), alongside Customs Comptroller M. Mu’azu and Emele Hope Orji of the ECOWAS Commission. Joining them were Ella Onoja from the NEPC and Dr. Bashir Ambi, Head of the NSC Complaints Unit, ensuring a comprehensive look at trade facilitation, regulation, and export development.
Formally opening the forum, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, asserted that the future of Nigeria’s maritime industry hinges on deep-rooted collaboration. He identified the strategic partnership between shippers and regulators as the definitive driver for long-term stability, economic resilience, and national prosperity.
The strategic alliance between the NCS, NPA, and NIMASA has slashed cargo clearance times by over 75%—dropping from seven days to under 48 hours. During the forum, Controller M. Muazu highlighted the success of the AEO program, which has seen dozens of operators transition to expedited processing, injecting new speed and transparency into the nation’s maritime gateway.
However, the CBN is turning the tide on forex stability by enforcing non-negotiable 90 and 180-day repatriation timelines.
No more extensions: Exporters must now credit proceeds directly to domiciliary accounts within stipulated windows.
The countdown is on for the National Single Window launch this month (March 27, 2026).
The Apex Bank is ditching manual hurdles for a unified digital portal to simplify the exporter’s journey.
This is more than a tech upgrade; it’s a transparent engine for Nigeria’s economic resurgence.
While the United Capital Group and CFG Africa led a critical dialogue on utilizing asset-backed financing to break the industry’s liquidity crunch. With Nigeria poised to dominate trade under the AfCFTA, the mandate for shippers is clear: master Incoterms and legal risk management to transform continental potential into local prosperity.
The event also featured a compelling presentation by the Legal Services Department of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. Representing Department Head Emeka Okereke, was Barr. Monima O. Peters delivered a keynote paper titled: ‘Legal & Regulatory Framework: Shippers Protection & Trade Facilitation in Nigeria’s Marine & Blue Economy.’
In a pivotal presentation, Dr. Bashir Ambi (Head of the NSC Complaints Unit) detailed the Council’s evolving role as Port Economic Regulator. He underscored the NSC’s commitment to trade facilitation through transparent complaints handling and proactive dispute resolution, ensuring that terminal charges remain fair, predictable, and globally competitive.
Highlighting the NSC’s significant economic footprint, Dr. Ambi emphasized the Council’s commitment to cost-free mediation for all stakeholders. This proactive approach has yielded tangible results: ₦773 million saved in the first quarter of 2024, following a record-breaking ₦2 billion in economic savings reported for 2023.
Furthermore, the Council announced a landmark reform: the harmonisation of terminal charges, which collapsed 34 separate fees into five standard categories. To solidify these gains, the NSC is actively pursuing the statutory transition into the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), with the governing bill currently awaiting final presidential assent to replace its existing executive mandate.
Closing the forum, Deputy Director Dr. Pauline Osasona highlighted a major win: the presence of a Qatari diplomatic delegate, signaling global interest in Nigeria’s trade potential. Her message to the industry was urgent—it is time to move beyond talk and into action. By embracing transparency and shared responsibility, stakeholders can turn today’s policies into tomorrow’s economic reality.
A diverse assembly of high-level stakeholders took the stage to drive the maritime conversation forward. The session was headlined by Oyinloye Adeola Meshack (representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy), alongside Customs Comptroller M. Mu’azu and Emele Hope Orji of the ECOWAS Commission. Joining them were Ella Onoja from the NEPC and Dr. Bashir Ambi of the NSC, ensuring a comprehensive look at trade facilitation, regulation, and export development.
