The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) said on Tuesday that it has commenced moves to harmonise haulage rates for truckers in the country and also have a comprehensive and standard rates for all road transport corridors in the country.
Disclosing this yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Council; Mr Hassan Bello, disclosed that the council recently completed the haulage survey from Lagos ports to various destinations across the country.
He also said that, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has also completed a similar survey exercise from Eastern ports to other destinations in the country.
Bello also added that the rates were validated with stakeholders in the presence of officials of Ministry of Transportation, as well as those of Power, Works and Housing.
The meeting which had in attendance the Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT) Dr. Anthonia Ekpa, was also attended by representatives of banks and other critical stakeholders in the haulage industry.
Speaking further, Bello said that the whole exercise was to establish a well-structured and standardized haulage rates and services for the road transport sector.
He however explained that most trucks operating on Nigerian roads are rickety and do not have comprehensive insurance or goods-in-transit cover.
He lamented that; "Bad road networks in most of the corridors cause delay and accidents; there is no alternative mode to transport cargo other than the road transport mode in all the corridors. Insecurity of both goods and persons-in-transit are prevalent".
He however noted that the "the haulage rates are indicative rates which are subject to negotiations and waivers by parties involved"
"Rates were reviewed based on corridors’ terrain and other unfavourable factors. All costs factors were considered and factored into the rates".
"These rates are important now; we will work with Customs and other government agencies to ensure that the regulations are enforced. We will keep working until we reach a good end" he assured.
Also speaking, the Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transportation acknowledged the importance of bringing stakeholders together.
"It is important to bri ng stakeholders together”, she said even as she disclosed that, “towards the end of this month, we will have want they call an annual press conference where all these things will be put together. There is need to come together o bring out regulations that will help to enforce this”.
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