The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the country’s ports economic regulator, says it is poised to streamline port operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
Ify Okolue, zonal coordinator, NSC, South-East Zone, revealed this Tuesday, at the quarterly general meeting of the Abia Shippers Association, held at the zonal office of the NSC, on Aba-Owerri road, Aba,
She explained that the desire of the NSC, is to reduce cost of doing business, ensure efficiency and eliminate corruption at the ports.
She explained also that the NSC wants to encourage transparency at the ports, which is why it has been agitating for the automation of the ports, to eliminate touts and other government agencies that are not needed at the ports, for efficiency.
According to her, transparency in port operations, would ensure that providers of shipping services, shipping companies, terminal operators and the users of the services-the shippers, play by the rules.
In her words, “Service providers are expected to provide quality service, maintain moderate terminal and shipping charges and avoid unilateral increase in tariff, while the shippers are expected to pay their correct duties, avoid under declaration of goods and observe due diligence in their imports and export documentation procedures”.
She appealed to shippers and other trade groups in Abia State, particularly those in Aba, to work as a team to boost trade in the area, noting that such collaborations, would enable stakeholders to solve their problems jointly and with ease.
Amongst the many services of the Council to stakeholders include negotiation with cargo haulers for the review of haulage rates and monitoring of compliance to such rates, consult and negotiate with various stakeholders with the aim of reviewing port charges and abrogation of unjustifiable charges to improve and attract patronage to Nigerian ports.
Alex Adaelu, president Abia Shippers Association, appreciated the efforts of the NSC to improve trade in the country and assured the Council’s management of the unflinching support of Abia Shippers Association to ensure that it achieves it aims.
The essence of the gathering was to bring stakeholders closer to the Council and to encourage the shippers association to improve bonding, interaction, communication, collaboration and for exchange of quality ideas that would be beneficial to all trade groups and the NSC.
The well attended meeting attracted the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Abia State, members of the Abia Shippers Association, representatives of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), Association of Leather and Allied Industrialists of Nigeria (ALAIN), Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers of Nigeria (ATFAD), Freight forwarders, among others.
GODFREY OFURUM
