Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, NPERA, Dr Pius Akutah, has called for stronger local participation, greater investment in technology and the promotion of indigenous initiatives to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
Akutah made the call when he received a delegation from Dangote Industries Limited (Dangote Group), on a courtesy visit to NPERA at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos, stressing that sustainable economic development would require stronger collaboration between government and local businesses.
He said Nigeria must deepen local engagement and encourage initiatives capable of addressing the country’s economic challenges while also investing in technology to improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.
The NPERA boss said greater attention should be given to Africa’s development through technology-driven solutions, noting that innovation could help address existing inefficiencies and create new opportunities for economic growth.
He also highlighted the need for reforms that would improve the efficiency of existing systems and make the Nigerian business environment more competitive.
According to him, the Federal Government’s efforts to grow the economy, including increasing oil exports and creating employment opportunities, would yield greater benefits when complemented by strong local initiatives and private-sector investment.
Akutah urged stakeholders to identify and support opportunities capable of unlocking Nigeria’s untapped economic potential, noting that stronger partnerships between regulators and businesses would be critical to achieving sustainable development.
Earlier, the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, represented by the Managing Director, Dangote Operations, Mr. Akin Omole, expressed the group’s support for the establishment of NPERA.
The group also pledged continued support for the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, describing the sector as critical to strengthening the nation’s economic growth.
It said investments by the Dangote Group were contributing to a gradual shift in Nigeria’s trade profile from import dependence towards greater export capacity, particularly through the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and its three-million-tonne fertiliser plant.
According to the delegation, the investments are positioning Nigeria as an emerging exporter of refined petroleum products and fertiliser, while strengthening the country’s participation in international trade.
The Dangote Group noted that it expects NPERA to provide a regulatory environment in which tariffs and service standards are transparent, sustainable and globally competitive.
It urged the Agency to balance the interests of operators and government while ensuring that regulatory measures contribute to reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria.
The delegation expressed confidence that effective regulation and continued private-sector investment would support the growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy and further strengthen the country’s economic development.
