Shippers’ Council maritime reforms save over N10bn, expand transit parks and push Nigeria towards becoming Africa’s maritime hub

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Pius Akutah, on Monday in Abuja said the council has saved maritime sector stakeholders more than N10 billion in dispute resolution costs over the past two years while advancing nationwide infrastructure reforms to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading maritime hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

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Dr Pius Akutah disclosed this during a media parley, where he said the council’s Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism handled between 300 and 400 cases in 2025 alone, saving stakeholders over N4 billion in litigation related costs.

He said the figure followed savings of more than N6 billion recorded in 2024, underscoring the growing impact of efficient conflict management in a sector that accounts for over 80 percent of global trade.

Dr Akutah described the results as compelling evidence of the value of timely regulatory intervention.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council chief identified the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill as the most significant achievement of the council in the last two years.

The bill, sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, has passed both chambers of the National Assembly and is awaiting presidential assent.

Dr Akutah said the legislation would replace the existing 1978 decree governing the sector, describing the current legal framework as outdated and misaligned with the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He also revealed that the council is developing 14 vehicle transit parks across the country, with projects at varying stages of completion.

According to Dr Akutah, the parks are strategically distributed to address driver fatigue, which he said remains a major cause of fatal road accidents in the logistics sector.

The transit parks, he explained, will function as secure rest areas and economic hubs, allowing drivers to rest, protect cargo, and reduce roadside parking risks that often lead to theft and damage.

On inland dry ports, Dr Akutah said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the completion of the nearly finished Funtua Inland Dry Port shortly after assuming office.

He added that operational dry ports are currently concentrated in Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina, while efforts are ongoing to accelerate projects in other states.

Dr Akutah disclosed that a privately developed inland dry port in Borno State is being fast tracked for commissioning during the second half of the President’s tenure, with strong backing from the state government.

He commended the completion of the Lagos to Kano rail corridor and expressed optimism about the eastern rail line, describing rail transport as the cheapest and safest means of moving cargo nationwide despite its capital intensive nature.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council boss said the council has also established Border Information Centres to capture significant informal trade taking place in border communities, noting that unrecorded transactions have long distorted Nigeria’s national trade data.

Dr Akutah acknowledged that Nigeria made a strategic mistake by delaying its signature of the AfCFTA agreement, which he said resulted in the loss of opportunities, including hosting the AfCFTA secretariat.

He stressed, however, that the country must now focus on maximising the benefits of the agreement through improved connectivity.

He identified maritime logistics as one of AfCFTA’s biggest challenges, citing inefficient vessel routing and the absence of African owned shipping lines as major obstacles to seamless intra African trade.

Dr Akutah said compliance with regulatory mandates has been strong, attributing this to transparent engagement with stakeholders and investor demand for certainty in a capital intensive sector.

He added that the council’s Compliance Unit has become a trusted platform for resolving disputes amicably and avoiding costly court cases.

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He concluded that with the regulatory bill nearing assent and infrastructure projects advancing nationwide, the Shippers’ Council maritime reforms signal Nigeria’s determination to reclaim leadership in African maritime logistics and fully leverage the opportunities offered by AfCFTA.