By Dianabasi Effiong
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged journalists to continually collaborate with the ports’ economic regulator to create more public awareness on the abundant economic potential and opportunities in the Akwa Ibom state’s maritime and blue economy domains to attract quality investments.
The Port Officer, Uyo Port Office of the NSC, Mrs. Molly Asanga, said this in Uyo on Monday when the Executive Committee of the Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR), Akwa Ibom State Branch, paid a courtesy visit to the Council.
Asanga, who acknowledged the role of the media as critical partners in promoting the opportunities in the state’s maritime sector, said the media could also draw the attention of investors and other stakeholders to the vast resources and investment prospects within the sector.
She said, “It is the media that will be able to help to really promote what is happening and create awareness. We really appreciate you.”
According to the Federal agency’s Port Officer, the Council has, through engagements with coastal, litoral communities, and other stakeholders identified significant opportunities in Akwa Ibom that remain largely untapped.
Asanga said the Council had visited several litoral communities, fishing and crayfish, bays, ports, and locations that previously served as ports, where it identified opportunities for maritime trade, revenue points transportation, and investment.
She also urged stakeholders in the private sector to explore several opportunities in the port infrastructure, inland waterways transportation, vehicle transit areas, and other maritime-related businesses.
She also highlighted the need for vehicle transit areas to support the growing movement of trucks and other vehicles associated with port activities.
She said that such facilities could include designated parking spaces, filling stations, clinics, hotels, and other amenities that would enable drivers to rest and reduce accidents associated with long-distance transportation.
“We must be able to organise the state before the activities just come and overwhelm us,” she said.
Asanga also added that the Council had collaborated with relevant government agencies and security formations over challenges affecting maritime trade in coastal communities, including insecurity and informal cross-border activities.
She said the Council had met with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Customs Service following complaints from communities, with a view to improving security, formalising trade, and facilitating legitimate maritime business.
According to her, the Council’s mandate includes promoting seamless trade facilitation and ensuring that legitimate businesses operating along Nigeria’s maritime corridors can function in a secure and regulated environment.
Asanga said that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, established in 1978, was initially mandated to protect the interests of shippers, importers, and exporters, but its mandate was expanded in 2014 when it became the economic regulator of Nigeria’s ports.
She said the Council regulates port-related charges, tariffs, and rates, as well as the activities of service providers, including terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other players within the port industry.
Asanga said that the regulatory responsibility was primarily aimed at promoting cost-effectiveness and preventing arbitrary charges that could increase the cost of doing business and contribute to inflation.
She described the ports as gateways to the national economy, noting that efficient import and export activities were critical to trade, economic growth, and national development.
She commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for supporting the establishment of the Council’s Uyo Port Office, noting that the presence of the office had strengthened stakeholder engagement and maritime-related activities in the state.
The Port Officer assured EMR leadership of the Council’s readiness to sustain engagement with the association.
Asanga said that regular interaction between maritime journalists and industry regulators would promote accurate reporting and greater public understanding of the sector.
Earlier, the State Chairman of EMR, Akwa Ibom Branch, Comrade Harrison Ndifreke, said the courtesy visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the media and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Ndifreke said EMR was committed to specialised, responsible, and professional reporting of the energy, maritime, oil and gas, and blue economy sectors.
He said state’s extensive coastline, offshore oil and gas activities, maritime assets, and emerging blue economy opportunities made sustained and informed media coverage of the sector imperative.
The EMR chairman called for regular engagement between the Council and maritime journalists to facilitate access to accurate, timely, and authoritative information for balanced reportage.
He also expressed the association’s interest in collaboration with the Council in areas of capacity building, professional development, knowledge sharing, and media engagement.
Ndifreke assured the Council that EMR would continue to use its platforms to promote maritime awareness, highlight investment opportunities, encourage indigenous participation, and draw attention to challenges requiring policy and stakeholder intervention.
He said stronger collaboration between the media and maritime institutions would contribute to improved public understanding of the maritime sector and support efforts to position Akwa Ibom as a major maritime and blue economy hub.
