From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, has expressed satisfaction with concessionaires’ investments in terminal equipment and the conducive work environment, and called for their collaboration with the government to achieve port efficiency.
Akutah, accompanied by some NSC heads of departments, including the Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Cajetan Agu, visited the ENL Consortium Limited and toured the vast APM Terminals’ facilities, including the control rooms and quay side in his ongoing tour of the seaport terminals.
At APM Terminals, the Government Relations Manager, Kayode Daniel, led the team through the company’s operations, detailing its sustained deployment and upgrade of terminal and cargo handling equipment since the concession in 2006 and its commissioning in 2008.
Also, the Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, told the team that the operator has equally invested hugely in human and capital resources development.
Speaking on the visit, Akutah, who noted that huge investments, said it provided him “insight into what needs there are and what we need to do to foster collaboration between the government side and the private sector to provide that needed atmosphere for business to thrive.”
He commended the APM Terminals as “very neat, the work environment is very neat, and the people are working in a very healthy environment,” while describing their terminal equipment as “a huge investment.”
“What remains is how we can move that forward to achieve our mandate in the sector. As a regulator, it is our duty to bring up policies that will regulate their activities and ensure that we achieve what we are looking for.
“What they have done in terms of deployment of technology is quite promising, and I believe that on our part, by the time we also deploy technology, it will be easy for us to achieve the port conducive system that we are looking to.”
Meanwhile, he said it was time for action, with President Bola Tinubu “looking at the sector as one of the major sectors that will drive the economic policies going forward. So, we cannot sit down in the comfort of our offices and dole out regulations or policies without engaging the people who are operators in the field.”
He disclosed that the minister, who had earlier met with the stakeholders, “has engaged consultants to build a policy for the marine and blue economy, and that is ongoing.
“The policy is targeting all that has been the challenges, and then the solutions to those challenges. There is going to be a holistic approach to the challenges stagnating the sector.”
Earlier at ENL, the Executive Vice Chairman, Princess Vicky Haastrup, who is also the Chairman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, insisted that the maritime industry has the potentials to surpass the oil and gas industry in revenue generation, while urging the government to give the concessionaires a level playfield for business to thrive
