The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Barrister Hassan Bello has tasked Intels Integrated Logistic Services not to use its stronger position to create monopolistic dominance, and also to jettison fixing of arbitrary tariffs for clients at Onne ports, in Rivers State.
Bello gave the advice last week during a visit to the facilities of Intels in Onne port as part of a two – day working visit across ports in Rivers State.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Barrister Hassan Bello has tasked Intels Integrated Logistic Services not to use its stronger position to create monopolistic dominance, and also to jettison fixing of arbitrary tariffs for clients at Onne ports, in Rivers State.
Bello gave the advice last week during a visit to the facilities of Intels in Onne port as part of a two – day working visit across ports in Rivers State.
Addressing the management and staff of Intels who gave him a warm reception at their conference room headquarters the Chief Executive Officer of shippers’ council however commended Intels for the quantum of the company’s investment at Onne ports.
He told his guest that the Council’s delegation was at Onne as part of its meet-the-stakeholders programme which is also aimed at sharing information with them following Federal Government appointment of Nigeria Shippers’ Council as the commercial regulator of all port activities in the country.
“We have come here with open minds and to listen to you. We desire information from you. It is a two-way thing. We are aware of vast investment you have done’’, Barr Hassan Bello told Intels.
He said that they have come to Intels to rub minds, and discuss on areas of image, perception and monopolistic tendencies. ‘’We are against monopoly and dominance position’’,Barr Bello added.
He however assured Intels that as the regulatory body, the regulator will be fair, neutral, and also welcome healthy competition, which will be based on efficiency and prompt services.
“The more efficient you are, the more you have clientele”, he stated, even as he expressed the desire of NSC to have another kind of Intels to develop other ports, noting that this will give rise to healthy competition, and not monopoly.
The NSC boss noted that the council had received several complaints, some of which had to do with allegations of monopoly and arbitrary tariff fixing. He said that he is concerned because operators come and complain about some of the issues on hike in prices, and monopolistic tendencies. “We want your service to be predictable. Your charges must be scientifically determined. We want free level playing field”, Barr Bello told Intels.
He also noted that he he council is happy about the level of development in area of port infrastructure at Intels terminal and said that as the economic regulator, the council is working to ensure that landlocked neighbouring countries around Nigeria use Nigerian ports to bring their imported cargo.
Earlier in his speech, Head of Operations of Intel’s, Marko Miskovic, Intels, who represented the Managing Director; Mr SimeonVolpi, said that what is happening in Onne port is part of Private/Public Partnership which the Nigerian government embarked upon to develop port facilities. He said that it is important for the country to understand the issues involved, and for them to know the changing trend in client needs.
While expressing worry over some of the challenges of Intels, the Managing Director observed that some of the problems facing Intels activities include poor access road to Onne from Port Harcourt, lack of power supply from national grid, and poor dredging and deepening of Bonny and Warri water channels, in addition to poor understanding of its operations by several government agencies.
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