Determined to boost export and import of goods in the country, Cargo Defence Fund; a creation of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council said it is ready to partner with frontline logistics institute; Multimix Academy.
The assurance was given yesterday when the Secretary, Cargo Defence Fund, Mr Daniel Taiwo Okwudiri led a team to pay a courtesy visit to Chief Executive Officer of Multimix Academy, Dr Obiora Madu, at the institute in Lagos.
Mr Okwudiri told his hosts that prior to the establishment of the fund, the Shippers Council noticed a very high rate of abandonment of legitimate claims by indigent Nigerian shippers who could not afford the cost of pursuing their legitimate claims either in the court of law or through arbitration.
He explained further that in order to solve this problem, the council established two similar service schemes or products, initially known as the Cargo Protection and Indemnity Fund, and the Cargo Litigation Fund.
"The fund is a mutual scheme for importers and exporters in the sense that shippers contribute to the fund by way of registration. The registration fee is paid into the fund and when a registered member runs into problem, the mutually contributed fund is used to assist the member in solving the problem" he said
Also speaking during the visit, Dr Madu said that although collaboration in Nigeria is not something that comes easily, but he noted that the hand of fellowshiop been srteched by the Cargo Defence Fund is timely.
He also said that if the collaboration is properly done, it has the potentials to take away the government attention from the oil sector to the logistics sector.
He also maintained that if the required attention is given to the maritime sector, it has the capacity to return the country back to her pre independence glory.In his words, “Nigeria importers have suffered in international trade. Foreigners take a lot of advantage of us, this is why the cargo fund is very essential especially for all importers and exporters to be a member. All needs to join hands to bake a bigger cake that will go round and stop feasting from just the oil sector".
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