Shippers Council Makes Case For Establishment Of River Port In Benue State
The Nigerian Shippers Council has taken a strong position for the establishment of a River Port in Benue State.
Executive Secretary of the council,Pius Akutah stated this when the Benue Shippers Association recently visited the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Liaison Office in Abuja to press for stronger support and development of a river port in Makurdi, Benue State.
The delegation emphasized the urgent need for the Benue River Port as a critical infrastructure to boost trade for farmers, traders, and neighbouring states.
Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, who warmly received the group and affirmed the Council’s commitment to backing strategic projects in Benue. He revealed that the NSC has formally communicated with the Benue State government regarding the Inland Dry Port (IDP) project and expressed willingness to actively support the development of a river port in Makurdi.
“The Benue River Port is vital to enhancing regional trade and improving logistics for shippers,” Dr. Akutah said. He reiterated that the NSC is prepared to collaborate with the government to turn this vision into reality.
The NSC also plans to boost capacity building for shippers in Benue through training on the Cargo Defence Fund and the establishment of Border Information Centres, aimed at smoothing trade processes. Mrs. Ify Okolue, Director of Consumer Affairs at NSC, highlighted upcoming sensitization efforts to empower local shippers.
The delegation, led by Dr. Mhir Aii Iyenge, underscored the challenges shippers face in the absence of critical infrastructure like a river port and called on NSC to facilitate greater awareness of opportunities and programmes available to them.
The meeting ended on an optimistic note, with both parties pledging to work closely toward seeing the Benue River Port and Inland Dry Port developments flourish, thereby boosting economic growth and trade across the region.