L-R: Economic Officer, US Embassy, Mr Joel Kopp, Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Aminu Jalal, US Counsellor for Economic Affairs, Mr Alan Tousignant and Director, Policy and Planning, NADDC, Mr Luqman Mamudu, during the visit of the US officials to the council in Abuja, recently.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged the Federal Government to provide a more conducive atmosphere to achieve the New Port Order.
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, made the plea during a two-day training programme on effective media practice for maritime journalists with the theme: “ A New Port Order: A New Maritime Media,’’ held in Lagos.
The new port order is meant to ensure that the nation’s ports become as efficient as what could be obtained in other advanced countries.
Our correspondent reports that an efficient port order would discourage diversion of ships to neighbouring countries, increase vessel and cargo traffic as well as generate more revenue for government and service providers.
Bello said that the need for good maritime reports could not be over-emphasised because the media were among the change agents of operations in the industry.
“If maritime reporters are performing their roles effectively, everybody in the sector will do the right thing at the appropriate time.
“Maritime reporters need to upgrade their knowledge of the familiar trends in the industry and should report critically,’’ Bello said.
He also said that for quick and positive results of the New Port Order, procedures should be carried out appropriately as being done globally.
The NSC chief said there was also the need to introduce automation into the system, saying this would reduce delay in all chain of shipping until the consignments get to the owner.
The executive secretary said there had been reduction in delay in shipping processes, adding that Nigerian ports need to be competitive to attract more shippers who would use them as preferred destinations.
“Before we can achieve New Port Order, Nigerian Ports must be efficient.
“Nigeria has 860 km nautical miles with 26 terminals operators and the competition needs to be supervised,’’ Bello said.
He said there should be a moderator to checkmate the operations of the terminal operators as well as the shipping companies.
Bello said that there must be equilibrium in operations which would stimulate positive competition and efficiency in the port system.
He said there was also the need to transform Nigeria to a regional maritime hub in Africa.
The executive secretary said the media as the fourth estate of the realm must contribute meaningfully to the development of the port industry.
Bello explained that there were a lot of potentials in the nation’s maritime industry and journalists should add value to their reports.