Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council. Dr Pius Akutah MON (2nd from right), Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Selestine Gervas Kakele (1st from right), Deputy Attorney General of Tanzania, Sammel Marco Manene (3rd from right) and one other stakeholder during the visit to the NSC headquarters, Apapa, Lagos.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC, the country’s Commercial Regulator for the seaport industry, has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Government of United Republic of Tanzania in a bid to strengthen maritime regulations, enhance maritime operational development and further foster regional cooperation.  

Executive Secretary/CEO of the Council, Dr. Pius Akutah MON, made the pledge when he played host to a 19-member delegation from the United Republic of Tanzania, who were on a courtesy visit to the NSC headquarters in Lagos.

From right: NSC CEO, Dr Pius Akutah MON presents a souvenir to the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Selestine Gervas Kakele,

The NSC-boss expressed enthusiasm towards the prospects of developing for bilateral cooperation aimed at boosting shipping activities in East Africa.

It was gathered that the collaboration will focus on technical support, inter-port partnerships, capacity building, and information sharing- all intended to spur growth in Tanzania’s maritime sector.

Highlighting Nigeria’s supportive policies for private sector participation in port operations, Dr. Akutah commended Tanzania for its decision to include private investors in their shipping industry.

“Shipping business must be driven by the private sector because of the enormity of investments therein”, Dr Akutah said.

He also harped on the importance of transport connectivity in a quest to meet maritime hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA.

The NSC boss explained that the shipping industry, especially in developing countries must be driven by private investors.

Meanwhile, the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Selestine Gervas Kakele, who led the delegation, disclosed that the aim of the visit was to learn from Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework, saying that the NSC has remained a strategic partner in developing indigenous shipping capabilities.

In his contribution, Deputy Attorney General of Tanzania, Sammel Marco Manene, said Nigeria is one of the prominent countries in West Africa that is doing credibly well in terms of trade.

According to him, Tanzania is trying to see how it can benefit from the geographical location of the country as one of the countries in Africa.

Both sides underscored the importance of sustaining and expanding the robust trade relations between Nigeria and Tanzania, with plans for future engagements and knowledge exchange to drive maritime growth across Africa.