*Visits Nigeria Shippers Council Headquarters in Lagos
The Federal Government is committed to creating a conducive working environment for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to streamline the handling of overtime cargoes at all ports in Nigeria, ensuring effective and efficient service delivery.
Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, made this commitment during his recent visit to the NSC Headquarters in Lagos.
Oyetola expressed his assurance that the government would address challenges faced by the NSC and implement necessary reforms to advance the Blue Economy agenda of the current administration.
While he applauded the NSC’s contributions and achievements, he also voiced concerns over the deteriorating condition of port infrastructure, cargo overstay, and the activities of foreign fishing firms.
The Minister emphasized that cumbersome bureaucratic processes contribute significantly to prolonged cargo clearance times, leading to frustration among shippers and the abandonment of containers at ports.
Oyetola pledged to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to resolve the issue of abandoned cargoes and address related bottlenecks.
During his visit, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, highlighted key issues that require immediate attention, including amending the NSC Act to establish effective port economic regulation.
Jime emphasized the NSC’s role as a policy-making laboratory in the marine sector and its objective to position Nigeria as the Maritime Hub in the sub-Western Region.
Jime also cited ongoing concerns for the NSC, such as implementing a one-percent (1%) freight stabilization fee on imports and exports, enforcing the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), and establishing a National Fleet. He expressed confidence in Minister Oyetola’s commitment to making a positive impact on the maritime sector.
In addition to the NSC visit, Minister Oyetola also met with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). Chinyere Uromta, the Acting Registrar, appealed to the Minister to reconsider the exclusion of CRFFN from the federal budgetary allocation.
She highlighted the crucial role the Council plays in the freight forwarding sector, contributing to the integrity of the supply chain and the Nigerian shipping industry.
Uromta emphasized that CRFFN operates as a federal regulatory agency and serves as an international regulator of freight forwarding practices on a global scale. She called for an urgent amendment to the CRFFN Act to align with its professional status.
Oyetola commended CRFFN’s efforts and expressed a willingness to consider their request.
