The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, for the appointment and inauguration of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), describing the move as a strategic step towards strengthening institutional governance in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
In a press statement issued onJanuary 20th, 2026, SEREC said the inauguration of the NSC Board reinforces regulatory accountability and reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the maritime industry as a key driver of economic growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
While applauding the development, the research and advocacy group called on the Federal Government to urgently constitute the Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria (CRFFN), noting that the body has operated without a governing council since the inception of the current administration in 2023.
SEREC expressed concern that the continued absence of the CRFFN Governing Council contravenes the provisions of the CRFFN Act No. 16 of 2007. The organisation argued that reliance on an “existing court case” to justify the suspension of statutory governance at the council undermines regulatory consistency and runs counter to the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to SEREC, freight forwarding and logistics services play a critical role in trade facilitation, port efficiency, revenue generation and the overall logistics ecosystem. It warned that weak professional regulation in the sub-sector contributes significantly to the high cost of doing business, operational inefficiencies and Nigeria’s reduced competitiveness in global trade.
The group noted that the inauguration of the NSC Board underscores the importance of functional governance structures in enabling regulatory agencies to effectively discharge their mandates. It stressed that constituting the CRFFN Governing Council would help restore professionalism, strengthen compliance and align freight forwarding practice with key national initiatives such as the National Single Window and ongoing port reforms.
The research center urged the Federal Government to ensure uniform application of statutory governance across all maritime institutions by promptly activating the CRFFN Governing Council in line with its enabling law, adding that such a step would boost trade facilitation, support the development of the Marine and Blue Economy, and reinforce stakeholder confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector reforms.
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