“THE task ahead is enormous. We have a mountain to climb. We shall overcome. We are determined to work hard”.

Those words form part of the brief statement of the new board chairman of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Lt.-Gen Salihu Ibrahim.

Speaking at an inaugural meeting in Lagos, Salihu also pledged the resolve of the new board to work closely with other stakeholders especially the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Customs among others.

While thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for giving him and other members of the board the opportunity to serve, he said: “We shall explore all avenues and possibilities to solve most of the problems. We shall carry the council to the next height. The interest of the Nigerian importers and exporters shall be adequately protected.”

He explained that the clamour to appoint the NSC as a commercial regulator of the ports will be looked into by the board.

In his address, the NSC Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, described the appointment of the board as timely.