Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a new Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, charging members to drive accountability, strengthen regulation and accelerate reforms in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The inauguration, held at the Minister’s Conference Room in Abuja, marked what Oyetola described as a critical step in deepening institutional governance within the Marine and Blue Economy, as the government intensifies efforts to reposition the maritime sector as a key driver of economic transformation.
Addressing the new Board, Oyetola said the inauguration represented “a significant milestone in strengthening institutional governance and accountability within Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy sector.”
He noted that the constitution of the Board, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to “good governance, institutional effectiveness, and the strategic repositioning of the maritime sector as a catalyst for national economic transformation.”
He emphasised the central role of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the country’s designated Port Economic Regulator, describing the agency as critical to improving efficiency and fairness across port operations. According to the Minister, effective regulation is key to reducing the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports, facilitating trade, protecting shippers’ interests and boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global commerce.
Oyetola tasked the newly inaugurated Board to provide strategic direction and firm oversight in line with existing laws and government policies.
He urged members to work closely with the Council’s management, uphold professionalism and ensure that their decisions translate into measurable gains in trade facilitation, cost reduction and sectoral competitiveness.
He further assured the Board of the Ministry’s full support, calling on members to justify the confidence placed in them by the President “through integrity, discipline, and demonstrable results.”
The Governing Board is chaired by former Katsina State Governor, Dr Ibrahim Shehu Shema. Other members include the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr Pius Akutah; Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, representing the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; Mr John Aluya of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria; Rt Hon Chiji Collins; Mrs Olufunmilayo Olaseinde; Dr Funmilola Rashidat Adeoti; Alhaji Mele Kofo Gladem; Mrs Hafsatu Mohammed, representing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited; Hon Maharazu Adamu Dayi; and Mrs Uzoamaka Okereke, representing the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, Shema expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, while also thanking the Minister for his leadership in the sector. He pledged that the Board would carry out its duties with “dedication, professionalism, and integrity,” while committing to effective oversight, improved regulatory efficiency and initiatives aimed at enhancing port performance and trade facilitation.
He assured that the Board would work in close collaboration with the Ministry and the Council’s management to deliver “tangible and sustainable results for Nigerian shippers and the wider economy.”
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council serves as the nation’s Port Economic Regulator, with a mandate to promote efficiency, transparency, competitiveness and fairness in port operations and service delivery, while safeguarding shippers’ interests and improving Nigeria’s overall maritime trade environment.
