The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has rejected a recent advice given by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) for the port Economic Regulator to apply force on stakeholders to ensure compliance.
The NAGAFF had said at a recent forum in Lagos that the Shippers’ Council has failed to ensure compliance to rules in the ports, because it lacked powers of enforcement. The association consequently urged the Council to partner the Nigerian Police.
But, speaking with Shipping Position Daily on the sidelines of an event in Lagos last week, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Barrister Hassan Bello said that the Council would not result to use of force unless it is extremely necessary.
Bello said that rather, what the Council is coming up with is to consolidate freight forwarding associations in order to avoid influx unwanted persons at the ports.
He also reiterated that the Council is coming up with measures to equally consolidate haulage businesses and truck owners operating at the port. He frowned at the fact that many of the trucks accessing Nigerian ports are rickety and they cannot drive automation.
"It is not the issue of using force, it is the issue of obeying the laws, the force may not arise unless it is extremely necessary, and this is not for one agency or operator. There are lots of distortions going on in the industry which must be corrected"
"We are talking about truck drivers operating rickety trucks, this cannot continue because it does not support reforms. This is why we have said there must be a registered truck company with minimum of six trucks before they would be allowed to enter the port"
"Also, we cannot continue to have 20 freight forwarders chasing one container, you don't need to go to the ports, as we move towards the computerisation of the ports, it's either you have the appliance to key into the system or you are thrown away" Bello said.
Stressing his point, Bello said there are lots of distortions in the maritime industry which must be corrected.
He assured that the Council is in dialogue with the Federal Government to ensure that Government invites maritime operators and dialogue with them before policies are rolled out.
He said the government must provide conducive environment for the private sector to thrive. He acknowledged that the National Automotive Policy of the government has made RoRo terminals to lose about 70 per cent of their investments.
According to Bello, the port concession agreement must be monitored because there are obligations both by the government and the terminal operators. He said certain things has to be done and there must be a coordinator in Nigerian Shippers Council to check compliance
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