The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) is considering the creation of a data bank as custodian of Nigerian port industry statistics in order to have a source for historical data and a tool for industry forecasts.
NPCC leadership discussed this goal on Tuesday when it inaugurated five new committees charged to develop actionable ideas for Nigeria’s port industry growth.
The new committees are: Ports Legal Committee chaired by Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN) and Mrs. Gloria Kanabe as Vice Chairperson; Port Operations and Logistics Committee chaired by Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu and Dr. Ikenna Nwosu as Vice Chairman; Finance and General Purpose Committee chaired by Ify Akerele and Mrs. Blessing Osakwe-Ogo as Vice Chair; Research Development, Consultancy and Training Committee chaired by Prof. Bamidele Badejo and Hajia Aisha Ali-Ibrahim as Vice Chairperson; Media/ Publicity Committee chaired by Dr. Hope Orivri and Mr. Kenneth Jukpor as Secretary.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of NPCC, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, observed that this database would help industry operators, regulators and government plan for investments, policy adjustments and infrastructure within the sector.
The NPCC boss expressed optimism that the Council could become the custodians of port statistics with robust collaboration with government regulatory agencies and stakeholders at the seaports.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman, NPCC, Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN), observed that the NPCC committees are expected to develop a workplan in sync with their terms of reference, even as she assured that the Council will play its part to support the respective Committees.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated Committees, the Chairman of Port Operations and Logistics, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, stressed that an assessment of the nation’s seaports could be divided into two parts: port operations and human activities.
He remarked that a clear understanding of the these roles will help in planning the sector’s growth and measuring performance of the respective operators, agencies and stakeholders.
On his part, Dr. Ikenna Nwosu, pointed out the need for NPCC to help the port and maritime sector become properly captured in the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He, however, opined that with NPCC’s goal to become custodians of port statistics, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other research organizations will have access to vital industry data for GDP calculation.
