By Solomon OKPO | Uyo
UYO, The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR), Akwa Ibom State Branch, have pledged to strengthen collaboration towards promoting the state’s maritime assets, attracting investment and unlocking the vast opportunities in its blue economy.
The commitment was made on Monday, August 17, 2026, when the Executive Committee of EMR, led by its State Chairman, Comrade Harrison Ndifreke, paid a courtesy visit to the NSC Uyo Port Office.
Receiving the delegation, the Port Officer of the Council, Mrs. Molly Asanga, described the media as a critical partner in promoting maritime development, saying sustained publicity was needed to draw investors and other stakeholders to the opportunities available across Akwa Ibom’s coastal and maritime communities.
According to Asanga, the Council had engaged several littoral communities, fishing and crayfish ports and locations that previously operated as ports, and discovered significant opportunities in maritime transportation, trade and infrastructure that remained largely untapped.
She urged private investors to explore opportunities in port infrastructure, inland transportation, vehicle transit areas and other maritime-related businesses.
Asanga particularly advocated the establishment of vehicle transit areas to support the increasing movement of trucks and other vehicles associated with port operations. She explained that such facilities could provide designated parking spaces, filling stations, clinics, hotels and other amenities where drivers could rest, thereby reducing fatigue-related accidents and improving road safety.
“We must be able to organise the state before the activities just come and overwhelm us,” she said.
The NSC Port Officer further disclosed that the Council had engaged relevant government agencies and security formations, including the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Customs Service, over challenges affecting maritime trade in coastal communities, particularly insecurity and informal cross-border activities.
She said the engagements were aimed at improving security, formalising legitimate trade and creating an enabling environment for maritime businesses to thrive.
Asanga explained that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, established in 1978, was originally created to protect the interests of shippers, importers and exporters, but became the economic regulator of Nigeria’s ports in 2014.
She noted that the Council regulates port-related charges, tariffs and rates, as well as the activities of terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders and other service providers within the port industry.
According to her, the regulatory mandate is designed to promote cost-effectiveness, check arbitrary charges and reduce the cost of doing business, stressing that efficient ports remain critical gateways to national economic growth.
She commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for supporting the establishment of the Council’s Uyo Port Office, saying its presence had enhanced stakeholder engagement and strengthened maritime-related activities in the state.
Asanga assured EMR of the Council’s readiness to sustain regular interaction with maritime journalists, noting that closer collaboration would promote accurate reporting and deepen public understanding of the maritime sector.
Earlier, EMR State Chairman, Comrade Harrison Ndifreke, said the visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the association and the Shippers’ Council.
Ndifreke said EMR was committed to specialised, responsible and professional reporting of the energy, maritime, oil and gas and blue economy sectors.
He noted that Akwa Ibom’s extensive coastline, offshore oil and gas activities, maritime assets and emerging blue economy opportunities made sustained and informed media coverage essential to the state’s economic development.
The EMR chairman called for regular engagement between the Council and maritime journalists to ensure that reporters have access to accurate, timely and authoritative information for balanced reportage.
He also expressed the association’s willingness to partner with the Council in capacity building, professional development, knowledge sharing and other media-related initiatives.
Ndifreke assured the Council that EMR would continue to use its platforms to promote maritime awareness, publicise investment opportunities, encourage indigenous participation and draw attention to challenges requiring government and stakeholder intervention.
He said stronger collaboration between maritime institutions and the media would contribute significantly to positioning Akwa Ibom as a major maritime and blue economy hub while promoting sustainable economic development across the state.
The Evangelist News
