Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) on Wednesday the 17th July ended its one-day stakeholder’s seminar in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, urging the Federal Government to promptly address the freight rate differential in the Eastern Ports, which they said is hampering trade and by extension the Ease of Doing Business Policy of the Government.
According to them, this will increase the number of shipments into the Eastern Ports if considered.
This was contained in a 9-point communiqué that emanated from the seminar.
Other points include, dredging of the channels and berths that lead to the Eastern Ports, to allow larger vessels easy access to the Ports.
The participants also called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Shippers Council to include National Shippers Association Executive in their policy making scheme as representatives of Port users.
This, they said will give them sense of belonging, as critical stakeholders in the Ports.
The communiqué equally requested that the Federal Government should implement the Cabotage Act, to allow stakeholders enjoy the economic benefits of the blue and marine economy.
The participants appealed to the Federal Government to publicize the functions and responsibilities of the regulatory agencies in the ports, to ease their operations.
The document also called on the regulatory agencies to develop a synergy that will enable the Federal Government realise the policy of Ease of Doing Business at the Eastern Ports.
The communiqué stated that given the strategic position of the maritime industry to the national economy, transparency and efficiency should be the hallmark of shipping transactions in Nigerian Ports Nationwide.
The stakeholders commended Nigerian Shippers Council for the seminar, which they said was rewarding. Stressing that it should be sustained.
The seminar with the theme, “UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF REGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE PORT SYSTEMS”, organized by the South south Coordinating office of the Nigerian Shippers Council had in attendance several stakeholders in the maritime domain.
These include Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Shippers and Customs Agents.
Others are, NIMASA, NAFDAC, PHCCIMA and National Shippers Association, amongst others.
Earlier in his address the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Pius Akutah, who was represented by the South south Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Jeremiah Okoliko who said he has been longing to interact with stakeholders, urged the participants to fashion out ways of making economic infrastructure around them contribute to the Nation’s economy.
The Executive Secretary expressed confidence that the seminar will not only clarify the different functions of the regulatory agencies, but will demystify their operations.
“The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently developing a holistic new policy document for the blue economy and issues of Port efficiency are a major focus. Government is looking at moving from less than half a billion dollar to a trillion dollar economy in four years and the blue economy is one of the pivotal drivers, “the Executive Secretary said.
