The acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, has restated the agency’s commitment to remove all barriers to seamless facilitation of transit cargo to the Republic of Niger through Nigeria’s sea ports.

The DG, who gave this assurance when the Nigerian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo, led by the Director General of the Shippers Council of the Republic of Niger, Mr. Oumarou Issoufou, paid a courtesy visit to the agency in Lagos recently, also noted that Nigeria and Niger can work together without barriers to ensure smooth passage of goods between both countries.

The NIMASA boss expressed satisfaction with the activities of the commission, specifically in the area of trade relations between Nigeria and Niger saying both countries have a lot to benefit from each other on issues concerning trade.

“We will continue to share ideas on how to make the relationship better and remove all barriers to successful transit of cargo between the two countries using global best practices,” the DG said.

Earlier in his address, the Director General of Niger Republic Shippers’ Council, who spoke through an interpreter, commended the Agency’s efforts in ensuring safety and security at the nation’s ports and also pledged the readiness of Niger Republic to co-operate with the Nigerian government for the interest of both countries.

“We have been to the Apapa and Tincan Ports and we observed the quality of safety and security available on the Nigerian waterways, which are commendable,” Oumarou stated.

He appealed to NIMASA to do its best to foster a good relationship between both countries.

The Nigerian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo was established with the aim of facilitating seamless transit of Niger-bound cargo through Nigerian ports.

The delegation from the Republic of Niger, comprising mostly economic operators, was in Nigeria to inspect port facilities ‎with a view to channelling most of their cargo through Nigerian ports.

•Photo shows, from left: Mr. Oumarou Issoufou, Director General, Niger Republic Shippers’ Council, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, Acting DG, NIMASA, Mr. Solomon Ishaya, a Director at the Federal Ministry of Transport, and Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi, Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, when the Nigerian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo recently paid a courtesy visit to the Agency in Lagos.

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