The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State has pledged its unflinching support for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in carrying out the new role given to it by the Federal Government to act as the economic regulator of the ports, pending the passage of the National Transport Commission Bill.
President of the association Rev. Jonathan Nicole in an interview with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week assured the council of the support of shippers in order to make the ports more efficient.
The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State has pledged its unflinching support for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in carrying out the new role given to it by the Federal Government to act as the economic regulator of the ports, pending the passage of the National Transport Commission Bill.
President of the association Rev. Jonathan Nicole in an interview with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week assured the council of the support of shippers in order to make the ports more efficient.
Nicole pointed out that the Council is competent and matured to carry out this role because, it has over the years received several complaints from shippers through its Shippers Complaints Unit, and that this will enable it know where to start its functions, especially as it concerns shipping charges.
Speaking further, he said: "We are one of the people that fought for the Shippers’Council to be made the economic regulator in the absence of any other credible body and it took us over two years of constant information on the print and electronic media, we gave reasons why the council should be made economic port regulator"
"It is only in this country people do things the way they want without recourse to decency"
"Now, the council can look up to shipping companies and terminal operators and tell them that enough is enough"
"We are here to support the council and to point out the gray areas so that it can perform better, I believe the council is up to the task, except if they are not ready to do their job, and if they fail to carry out their duty properly, I will be the first to cry out to the world" Nicole warned.
Nicole also pointed out that the new role of the council is a blessing to Nigerian shippers, because according to him, the shipper incurs a lot of losses due to invisible transactions. Most of these transactions according to him are not receipted, and "this is what has made Nigerian shippers to take our faith in our hands"
Nicole said that shippers associations were created under the UNCTAD laws in order to work with the shippers’ council.
"The shipper plays a very important role in the port, without the shipper, there can not be activities at the port" he said
Discussion about this post