... As Council Calls For Urgent Reform
Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria — July 11, 2025: The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, NPCC has sounded the alarm over the country’s annual loss of more than $9 billion due to the under-enforcement of the Cabotage Act, calling it an “economic and patriotic emergency.”
Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Engagement Session on the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy held in Lagos, NPCC Chairman Bolaji Sunmola urged immediate action to reverse the trend and empower indigenous maritime operators.
“Our ports must prioritize Nigerian participation in shipping and maritime services. National companies must not just be present—they must be protected and empowered to lead,” Sunmola said.
The Cabotage Act, designed to protect Nigeria’s coastal shipping trade, has been undermined by widespread waivers and weak enforcement, allowing foreign dominance and capital flight.
Giving an enforcement plan, Sunmola suggested "Strengthen implementation of the Cabotage Act to protect Nigerian operators; Digitize port operations and modernize Customs to improve efficiency and upgrade ports to be smart, green, and accessible, with seamless inland connectivity."
Other steps according to him are, "to create new career paths through training, apprenticeships, and maritime education; align port operations with global sustainability benchmarks; eliminate overlapping mandates and manual processes; adopt a unified single-window system as well as empower youth and coastal communities through employment and innovation hubs."
Sunmola proposed the establishment of a Port-Sector Blue Economy Taskforce within 60 days to pilot reforms across Nigeria’s ports, with quarterly reviews and transparent performance metrics.
“The time for analysis is over. We now need execution,” he concluded. “Let our ports lead the way in building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous marine economy for Nigeria.”
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