SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL UNVEILS FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, VOWS TO REDUCE CARGO DWELL TIME, VESSEL TURNAROUND
By Aishat Momoh
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has described the current cargo dwell time and vessel turnaround rates at Nigerian ports as unacceptable, announcing bold measures to reduce the delays in line with regional benchmarks.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known on Wednesday during the opening of a two-day Management System Retreat in Lagos, themed ‘Achieving Strategic Intents Through Performance Lens’.
Dr. Akutah said the Council had entered a new era and must transform from a “process-heavy, paper-driven bureaucracy” into an outcome-driven regulatory body focused on performance and measurable results. He emphasized that the agency must support the goals of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
As part of the reforms, the NSC launched a five-year strategic plan (2025–2029), targeting improvements in trade logistics, cargo handling, port infrastructure, and digital transformation.
“Current cargo dwell time and vessel turnaround statistics remain unacceptable,” Akutah said. “We must work to ensure that cargo clearing timelines in Nigerian ports are reduced to match regional benchmarks. The days of manual processing must come to an end.”
To this end, he directed the agency’s Regulatory Services and ICT units to collaborate with terminal operators and the Nigeria Customs Service to develop a real-time integrated dashboard. The dashboard, he said, would track cargo and vessel processing metrics and form a core part of the Council’s monthly performance reviews.
Akutah also announced a December 2025 deadline for full transition to the NSC’s Enterprise Content Management system, warning that all departments must digitise internal documentation from memos to approvals or face administrative sanctions.
Highlighting the shift toward a performance-based culture, he stated that all NSC departments must align their annual work plans with national marine and blue economy objectives. He noted that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will determine staff promotions, postings, and recognitions.
The Human Resources and Strategic Planning departments, he added, have been tasked with finalising performance contracts for all staff.
On infrastructure development, the NSC boss stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of priority projects such as the Inland Dry Ports in Jos, Ogun (Gateway IDP), Kano (Dala IDP), and the Potiskum Vehicle Transit Area (VTA). He also highlighted the importance of the Border Information Centres in enhancing trade facilitation.
Dr. Akutah said he would personally oversee timelines, budgets, and stakeholder coordination, with biweekly progress reports now mandatory for the Inland Transport Services Department and zonal coordinators.
Earlier in the session, Director of Strategic Planning and Research, Rotimi Anifowoshe, underscored the importance of the retreat in reaffirming the Council’s commitment to accountability, results-based performance, and institutional transformation.
He said the five-year strategic plan was a product of a reflective planning process designed to realign the Council’s vision with current national and sectoral priorities.
A major highlight of the retreat was the signing of a performance bond by the Executive Secretary and departmental heads a symbolic commitment to a new era of performance-driven governance at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
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