As a follow up on the call by the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial district, Senator Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, for an urgent Federal Government intervention on high shipping costs in Nigeria, the Senate on Monday, moved to Lagos to meet with stakeholders in the marine industry and also conduct an on the spot assessment of the challenges in the industry. During the meeting which lasted for hours, the Senate delegation made up of members of its committee on Marine Transport, through Senator Ubah, reassured Nigerians that the upper chamber will always act in favour of their interests. They also maintained that they will work closely with the executive arm to ensure that the challenges being faced by importers and other businesses due to high shipping costs are reduced to the barest minimum.
In a short remark at the end of the assessment visit and meetings , the Anambra South Senator thanked the Senate for taking prompt action on his motion. He also maintained that with the visit and subsequent engagements with relevant authorities, it is highly expected that Nigerian bussineses especially importers will soon smile to the banks as the effect of the anticipated reduction in shipping costs will go a long way in boosting their businesses and promoting the Nigerian economy. He further reassured Ndị Anambra South, Anambrarians, Igbos and Nigerians in general that he will always put in his best in championing their interests.
Going forward this move by the Senate will also benefit Ndigbo who are mostly traders, which is one of the core visions of Senator Dr Patrick Ubah at the red Chambers,which is to promote trade, industry and enterprise among Igbo’s and Nigerians in general.
Senator went on to state that, ” Championing the economic indices that will keep driving the igbo economy is my core mandate and this intervention will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of our importers who are majorly igbo bussiness sons and daughters “
Present at the meeting with the Senate delegation are representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) the Assistant General Manager (Operations), Engr. Ibrahim Y. Anji, the Executive Director (Marine & Operations) Hon. Onari Brown, and the General Manager (Monitoring & Regulatory Services) Ugo Esther Madubuike. Also present were representatives of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) led by its Director General/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bashir Jamoh, NIMASA’s Executive Director (Administration & Finance) Chudi Offodile and its Executive Director (Cabotage Services & Maritime Labour) Engr. Victor O. Ochei Esq.
Other stakeholders that met with the Senate delegation include the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Barr. Sam Nwakohu, Executive Director of SIFAX Group, Capt. IB. A. Olugbade, the Managing Director of JOSEPDAM, Simon Travers, Ag Managing Director of Dangote Greenview Development Limited S. Akin Omole, the Executive Vice-Chairman of ENL Consortium Limited, Princess (Dr) Vicky Haastrup, fcis and the Managing Director of Lekki Port, Du Ruogang.
The Senate Committee engagements with the relevant stakeholders is billed to continue today.
