The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has called for strengthened port economic regulation as a strategic tool to drive trade facilitation and unlock export potential in the North-East region.
Speaking at an enlightenment seminar in Bauchi with the theme “Effective Port Economic Regulation: The Key to Unlocking an Efficient and Sustainable Port Regime,” the Zonal Director of the Council’s North-East Directorate, Mr Nanbol Nanle, said effective regulation remains critical to improving the ease of doing business and enhancing cargo movement efficiency across Nigeria’s port system.
Nanle reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to protecting the interests of shippers, importers, and exporters, adding that the seminar was specifically convened to equip stakeholders in Bauchi State with knowledge of the Council’s regulatory mandate and ongoing port reforms.
“This will enable importers and exporters to carry out their activities more efficiently and at reduced costs,” he said.
The programme also focused on the fundamentals of non-oil exports, with insights from the Nigeria Customs Service on cargo clearance and forwarding procedures. According to Nanle, ports are essentially customs-controlled environments, making the Service a critical partner in the clearance value chain.
He further disclosed that while progress has been made toward establishing a dry port in Bauchi State, some challenges remain, particularly the need for full alignment and obligation fulfilment by the state government.
The seminar further exposed participants to exportable commodities available in the region, including agricultural produce and solid minerals, as well as the regulatory procedures involved in shipping them abroad.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Association of Gum Arabic Producers, Processors and Exporters of Nigeria (NAGAPPEN), Bauchi State Chapter, Alhaji Bello Inuwa Galloji, described the workshop as timely and impactful.
He said the initiative would greatly benefit farmers and emerging exporters by providing critical guidance on registrations, certifications, and procedural requirements for export trade.
Galloji commended the Nigerian Shippers Council for engaging directly with stakeholders in the North-East and providing practical, step-by-step export education.
