The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Barrister Hassan Bello has reiterated that Nigeria can not as yet be classified as a maritime nation, until she controls and impressive fleet.
Bello told members of the Rivers/Bayelsa Shippers Association (RIBASA) and other stakeholders at a forum in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that, Nigeria cannot be classified as a maritime nation just on account of her being a coastal nation.
According to him, what qualifies a nation as a maritime nation is the number and quality of ships and vessels that the country has.
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Barrister Hassan Bello has reiterated that Nigeria can not as yet be classified as a maritime nation, until she controls and impressive fleet.
Bello told members of the Rivers/Bayelsa Shippers Association (RIBASA) and other stakeholders at a forum in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that, Nigeria cannot be classified as a maritime nation just on account of her being a coastal nation.
According to him, what qualifies a nation as a maritime nation is the number and quality of ships and vessels that the country has.
The Shippers’ Council chief executive officer was in Port Harcourt to further sensitise stakeholders on its new role as the commercial regulator of the ports.
Addressing the gathering, he acknowledged that the new role of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council is enormous, and added that the organisation’s management was working out modalities to ‘recreate’ the council to be a truly commercial and economic regulator of all port activities in the country.
Bello added that the council is currently consulting widely with all stakeholders. “Since Mr President announced NSC as the economic regulator of ports in the country, we have been working hard. We have been consulting with all shipping lines, NIMASA, NPA, Customs etc. This is because we recognize that there are many interests”.
He however assured that, as the commercial regulator, the Shippers’ Council will give the required support to encourage local operators to own ships. “If we have indigenous carriers, it will boost the nation’s portfolio. Even if we cannot own vessels, at least we can charter. This we have made clear to Mr President”, NSC boss stated.
Addressing the audience, he also commended the Rivers/Bayelsa Shippers Association (RIBASA) for the body’s commitment, even as he added that although a number of Shippers Associations have derailed from what they ought to be doing, the RIBASA has distinguished itself by not following the bandwagon.
“Shippers associations ought to be the owners of the business, they are by right, supposed to dictate the pace of the industry, the original intention is gradually being lost. But today from what I have seen here, I think there is still hope”, the Executive Secretary acknowledged.
In a paper presented by the Rivers Bayelsa Shippers Association and read by Mr Sam Epeia, the association expressed appreciation on the visit of the Executive Secretary to Port Harcourt, describing it as timely.
Some of the issues that the association tabled before the Shippers’ Council boss are: the need to make shipping activities to favour Nigerians, the need to make export trade attractive, and the need to address differential freights rates between Lagos and Eastern Ports.
The RIBASA also pleaded for the need to address the problem of unwarranted demurrage, high terminal charges, tackling Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar port dilapidated facilities.
They also pleaded with the Shippers Council boss to use his influence to ensurethat cargo traffic returns to old Port Harcourt port, Warri , Sapele and Calabar ports, to reduce pressure on Lagos ports.
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