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NSC seeks stronger media partnership to showcase Akwa Ibom’s maritime assets and attract private investment.
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Coastal investment opportunities identified in fishing ports, former port locations, inland transportation and other maritime services.
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Vehicle transit areas proposed with parking, accommodation, healthcare and other facilities to improve road safety and support port-linked activities.
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Security and trade challenges being addressed through engagement with the Navy, Customs and other relevant agencies.
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NSC and EMR to deepen collaboration through specialised reporting, capacity building, knowledge sharing and public awareness.
August 18, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged maritime journalists to intensify reporting of Akwa Ibom’s coastal and maritime assets to attract private investment and accelerate the development of the state’s blue economy.
The Port Officer, NSC Uyo Port Office, Mrs Molly Asanga, made the call 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 in Uyo.
Asanga said the media had a critical role in exposing investment opportunities across the state’s coastal communities, fishing ports and former port locations to potential investors.
She said the Council had visited several coastal communities, including fishing and crayfish ports as well as locations that previously served as ports, and identified opportunities that could support expanded maritime trade and transportation.
According to her, investment in port infrastructure, inland transportation and other maritime support services could create jobs while increasing economic activity in the state.
Asanga also called for the establishment of vehicle transit areas to manage the increasing movement of trucks and other vehicles associated with port operations.
She said such facilities could provide designated parking spaces, filling stations, clinics, hotels and other amenities where drivers could safely rest, thereby reducing road accidents associated with long-distance transportation.
“We must be able to organise the state before the activities just come and overwhelm us”, she said.
The Port Officer disclosed that the Council was also engaging the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies on security concerns and informal cross-border trade affecting coastal communities.
She said the engagements were aimed at improving security, formalising legitimate trade and creating a conducive environment for maritime businesses.
Asanga explained that the NSC, established in 1978 to protect the interests of shippers, importers and exporters, became the economic regulator of Nigeria’s ports in 2014 following an expansion of its mandate.
She said the Council regulates port-related charges, tariffs and rates, as well as the activities of terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders and other service providers, with the objective of promoting cost-effective port operations.
Asanga described ports as gateways to the national economy, stressing that efficient import and export processes were essential to trade and economic development.
She commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for supporting the establishment of the NSC Uyo Port Office, saying its presence had strengthened stakeholder engagement and maritime activities in the state.
The Port Officer assured EMR of the Council’s readiness to sustain its relationship with maritime journalists, noting that regular engagement would promote accurate reporting and improve public understanding of the sector.
Earlier, the EMR State Chairman, Comrade Harrison Ndifreke, said the visit was to strengthen the relationship between the association and the Shippers’ Council.
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Ndifreke said EMR was committed to specialised reporting of the energy, maritime, oil and gas and blue economy sectors, noting that Akwa Ibom’s coastline, offshore oil and gas activities and other maritime assets required sustained media attention.
He called for regular engagement between EMR and the Council to enable journalists to access authoritative information for balanced reportage.
The EMR chairman also proposed collaboration in capacity building, professional development, knowledge sharing and media engagement.
Ndifreke assured the Council that EMR would use its platforms to promote maritime awareness, showcase investment opportunities, encourage indigenous participation and highlight issues requiring government and stakeholder intervention.
He said stronger collaboration between maritime regulators and the media would deepen public understanding of the sector and support efforts to position Akwa Ibom as a major maritime and blue economy hub.
