To position Nigeria as a competitive maritime hub in West Africa, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged the management of Lekki Deep Sea Port to prioritise the deployment of advanced technological solutions to optimise operations and drive long-term competitiveness.
This was the thrust of discussions during a high-level meeting between the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Dr. Akutah Pius, and the management team of Lekki Port, held at the Council’s headquarters.
Dr. Akutah, while commending the port’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, described it as a transformative asset for Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem. “Lekki Port is a modern, world-class facility and must serve as a reference point for excellence in shipping operations within Nigeria and across the region,” he said.
He further emphasised the Council’s commitment to investment predictability and regulatory clarity, noting that such enablers are essential to sustaining investor confidence and ensuring profitability. “The NSC is focused on creating a conducive environment that guarantees the sustainability of major infrastructure investments in the maritime sector,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Wang Qiang, Managing Director of Lekki Port, underscored the port’s operational model as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative and highlighted the importance of collaborative stakeholder engagement in navigating capital-intensive demands.
He appealed to the NSC to support a tariff review, citing mounting operational expenditures. “We face significant financial obligations and seek the Council’s intervention in reviewing the port’s tariff regime to reflect current realities,” Mr. Qiang said.
He reiterated the port’s commitment to developing supporting infrastructure, deepening investor engagement, and fulfilling its role as a strategic transshipment hub in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The meeting also explored strategic areas of synergy between both institutions, including regulatory harmonisation, policy advocacy, and capacity building—efforts that are expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade.
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