The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has announced an ambitious five-year reform plan aimed at transforming its operations through performance-driven strategies, complete digitalisation, and infrastructure development. A key milestone in this plan is the target to migrate all internal processes—such as memos, approvals, and record-keeping—to the council’s Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform by the end of September 2025.

This was revealed by Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, the Executive Secretary and CEO of NSC, during the opening session of the Council’s Special Management Retreat held in Lagos from July 23 to 24, 2025. Themed “Achieving Strategic Intents Through Performance Lens,” the retreat gathered senior directors, department heads, and key staff members. Its goal was to align daily operations with the broader national strategic objectives.

Dr. Akutah emphasised that the NSC can no longer function as a bureaucracy bogged down by paperwork and process delays. Instead, the focus must shift to delivering measurable results and outcomes. As part of this transformation, all departments are mandated to complete the transition to the ECM platform by the end of Q3 2025. He cautioned that failure to comply will lead to administrative sanctions, underscoring the importance of embracing this digital shift.

The Executive Secretary also highlighted the introduction of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-based staff appraisal system, a critical component of the five-year strategy (2025–2029). He directed the Human Resources and Strategic Planning departments to finalise and implement individual performance contracts in Q3, making it clear that future promotions, postings, and recognitions will depend on measurable performance outcomes.

On the infrastructure front, Dr. Akutah reaffirmed NSC’s commitment to delivering key projects, including the Jos Inland Dry Port, Gateway Inland Dry Port (IDP) in Ogun, Kano Dala IDP, Potiskum Vehicle Transit Area (VTA), and various Border Information Centres. Zonal coordinators and the Inland Transport Services Department are tasked with providing bi-weekly progress updates, while the Executive Secretary will personally oversee project timelines, budgets, and stakeholder engagement efforts.

To boost port efficiency, the Regulatory Services and ICT departments are working with terminal operators and the Nigeria Customs Service to develop a real-time performance dashboard. This tool will monitor critical metrics like vessel turnaround times and cargo dwell times, and will be reviewed monthly with the Executive Secretary’s office.

In addition, new initiatives aimed at improving stakeholder engagement and transparency were outlined for the third quarter. These include institutionalising quarterly stakeholder forums, launching regulatory newsletters, and establishing a formal complaint-resolution tracker managed by the PR Unit, Consumer Affairs, and Strategic Planning departments.

Expressing his appreciation, Dr. Akutah praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which he sees as a strategic move to harness Nigeria’s ocean potential for national development. He also praised the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his strong leadership and unwavering support, which has reinvigorated institutions like the NSC to embrace reform, innovation, and accountability.

He concluded by urging all directors and unit heads to return from the retreat with clear, actionable plans. “This retreat must be a turning point,” he declared. “We must move beyond intentions to implementation. Performance is no longer optional—it’s our new culture.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Rotimi Anifowose, the NSC Director of Strategic Planning and Research, underscored the importance of recent activities such as report validation and performance bond signing. These actions reaffirm the Council’s commitment to results-driven operations. The strategic planning session, he explained, was a vital process of reflection and realignment, resulting in a draft report that is currently being validated.

He emphasised that validation is not just a formality but an ownership exercise that ensures the final strategy reflects the institution’s goals, challenges, and aspirations for the next five years. The signing of the performance bond between the Executive Secretary and department heads represents a shared accountability principle, reinforcing a culture of discipline, transparency, and measurable results.

Anifowose urged all stakeholders to actively participate, provide honest feedback, and embrace a mindset of innovation and excellence, highlighting that these steps are about fostering strong leadership and collective responsibility in pursuit of Nigeria’s maritime development goals.