• As Minister Tasks Shippers’ Council On ICD
About four years after the nation’s seaports were concessioned, the new Transport Minister, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman has declared his intention to cause a performance audit o be carried out on all concessioned areas so as to determine the efficiency of the terminal operators.
Suleiman told the executives members of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja that he had discussed the need with the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and officials of the ministry.
According to the minister, the audit will enable the Federal Government to determine level of performance of the concessionaires and whether or not they have added value to port operations since they took over.
Suleiman recalled that government had concessioned about 25 terminals across the country since 2006, adding that it was time to look at what operates prior to the concessioning and what concessioning has brought about. According to him: “It is easy for people in the industry to see whether there has been improved operational efficiency at the ports”.
The minister equally seized the opportunity of another visit; this time, by the governing board of the Nigerian shippers Council to charge the agency to fast- track work on the Inland Container Depots (ICDs) that are being constructed in all the six geopolitical zones and to ensure that all encumbrances inhibiting their smooth take – off are resolved immediately.
According to him, functional ICDs will ultimately remove the cargo congestion faced at the Sea Ports especially at the Lagos Ports.
The Shippers’ Cpuncil delegation which was led by its board chairman, Dr. Mrs Mariam Ali lamented the poor financial state of the agency in contrast to sister organizations in the ministry.
She consequently appealed to the Minister to assist the Council in collecting the statutory 1 per cent levy on all freight charges in Nigerian Ports as prescribed by the Act establishing the Council.
Discussion about this post