The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has advised exporters and importers to avail themselves of global business opportunities through Illela Border Information Centre in Sokoto State.

Mr Yusuf Maiunguwa, the Officer in Charge of NSC Sokoto Area Office, gave the advice on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting in Sokoto.

Maiunguwa said the centre would soon be inaugurated and would be part of initiatives by the Federal Government to facilitate more trade opportunities and the ease of doing business in the country.

He said government had also planned to establish a Truck Transit Park in Illela and Dry Port to fast-track business growth in a friendly business environment.

Maiunguwa appealed to government agencies to always educate traders on their activities and roles in order to fast-track registration and other procedures in line with extant laws.

According to him, NSC is collaborating with the shippers association to enhance business development by breaking trade barriers.

The Secretary, Shippers Association in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Alhaji Gazali Muhammad, said the association was actively conducting its quarterly meetings.

Muhammad commended NSC for supporting and facilitating the association’s activities and inauguration of a joint business committee that allowed members to engage in collective trades which had been beneficial.

Representatives of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), National Commission on Museums and Monuments delivered lectures on their activities in relation to trade.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders discussed issues relating to exports, imports, government incentives and variety of items that could be exported and their duties.