The Nigerian Shippers’ Council, (NSC) said yesterday that it has commenced moves to subject all private terminals in the nation’s seaports to a comprehensive audit, so as to situate the prevailing delay in the cargo clearance at the ports.
The Council’s executive secretary; Mr Hassan Bello disclosed this during a working visit to APM Terminal at the Lagos Port Complex, where he also promised to collaborate, partner and synergise with the private operators as part of efforts to bring about efficiency at the ports.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council, (NSC) said yesterday that it has commenced moves to subject all private terminals in the nation’s seaports to a comprehensive audit, so as to situate the prevailing delay in the cargo clearance at the ports.
The Council’s executive secretary; Mr Hassan Bello disclosed this during a working visit to APM Terminal at the Lagos Port Complex, where he also promised to collaborate, partner and synergise with the private operators as part of efforts to bring about efficiency at the ports.
Bello said that the Council will work closely with other stakeholders so as to ascertain where the delay is being experienced in the course of cargo delivery.
He also said that the Council will like to witness the operations of some of these terminals so as to have a firsthand experience of their operations and challenges.
The Council boss explained that besides witnessing the operations of some of these terminals, the Council will also ascertain the quality of their equipment and how often they are put into use.
He further disclosed that the Council has also concluded plans to establish a Port Community System where issues affecting the port industry will be resolved by all stakeholders.
According to him, port regulation is democratic, hence there is need for the terminal operators and the port regulator to partner in order to address burning issues associated with port efficiency and to also make progress for the growth of Nigerian economy.
He said that the federal government owes the investors a conducive environment and also has a responsibility to protect their businesses and encourage it to thrive.
Bello said the Nigerian Shippers Council is committed to its responsibilities to terminal operators, saying that it is not just an economic regulator, but a moderator to port operations and maritime activities in order to bring about efficiency.
"The federal government must guarantee first, your investment and it must see to the fact that the return of the investment is good”, Bello told his host, even as he added that; “this is routine consultation we do with operators, operators are critical partners, the faith you have in the Nigerian economy cannot be overemphasized.
He also said that the council appreciates the investment made so far by the terminal operator and according to him the private sector play a key role in the growth of the economy.
Bello further described port operations in line with the new port order as a revolution to economic growth.
The executive secretary disclosed that the council is working on behalf of the terminal operators in many ways and to ensure that pricing are not arbitrarily done.
He also told his host that the arbitrary charges that are common in Nigerian ports can be described as a laissez faireattitude which is not proper for port development and economic growth.
"Nobody is saying that tariff is frozen forever, but there are ways of arriving at the tariff but what is a little bit worrying is the impunity because people just fix prices for themselves and it will not do for good business at the port", he pointed out.
He urged the terminal operators to highlight faced being faced in their business, stressing that the agency will continue to report to the federal government on how to protect them.
Bello said apart from the moderator role the agency; it also plays an advisory role to all stakeholders in the maritime sector on the need to improve in their operations as its affects ports operations.
" We are your advocate, we convey your message to the federal government to certain things are done to enhance port development and we are going to submit a long list of request to the federal government to make investment in ports itself a conducive place for more investors to come in", he assured his hosts.
On his part Chief Financial Officer, APMT; Bansal Suni urged the council to continue its role of moderator to ports operators, saying that there is need to partner with government agency like the Nigerian Shippers’ Council on advocacy.
He said to underscore its commitment to the Nigerian economy, the company is part of the investment in the Badagry port and that a whooping $350 have been invested in port facility in the past nine years since the ports were concessioned.
He said nine years ago and till date the terminal has become a world class terminal like what is obtainable in Europe in terms of infrastructures and processes.
Suni said that the terminal can move cargoes from the port to the hinterland, up to Kano State through train saying that about 20 containers now move up north every week.
Also speaking, Deputy Managing Director of APMT; Femi Ransome Kuti said the company has come to stay in Nigeria.
“We are here to stay, we are not only looking at developing the Apapa port, we are developing a new port in Badagry .
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