Shippers’Council Deploys Officers To Monitor Activities At Seaport Terminals

Months after it was appointed as the commercial regulator of the ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has disclosed that it is deploying its staff to supervise activities going on at the concessioned seaport terminals in Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of the Council; Barrister Hassan Bello made this revelation in Lagos yesterday when he conducted an on-the-spot assessment of activities at the ENL Consortium Terminals at Apapa Port, as well as the facilities of the Port and Cargo Handling Services Terminals at Tin Can Island Port.

Hassan Bello charged the concessionaires to ensure that they render full support to the Council by allowing its staff free access into their terminals and to ensure that necessary information is released to the council to work with.

The Shipper’s Council boss also directed that hence forth, all terminal operators would have to register with the Shippers’ Council so as to allow it measure their performances and investments.

He said that this was already provided for in the port concession agreement signed by the operators.

"By the powers conferred on us, you should give us unfettered access to your premises so that we would have supervisory ability to monitor and coordinate any activity within the terms of our instruction from the government"

"We are trying to come to you, we are not going to seat at our own table in the office and carry out this important responsibility, from now on you will have shippers council staff coming round, the idea is not only to supervise your operations alone, but to also deliver service to you, if you have any area of complaints you should give us that and we will intervene"

"We are also very interested in disclosure, you will have to register with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, it is there in the concession agreement, you have to give us certain information and this is also specified, this is what we will use to measure the efficiency of the terminal operator", he told the terminal operators yesterday.

Bello charged the concessionaires to be more profitable and efficient in the handling of cargoes to the satisfaction of the cargo owners. According to him, without the shipper, concessionaires will not be able to function.

Bello warned terminal operators against obnoxious practices such as rent-seeking, unnecessary delay of cargoes, obnoxious storage charges among other under dealings.

Specifically, he warned that:"You will never increase your charges without consultation with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council; we know that charges are not frozen, sometimes they go up and sometimes they come down, but we are concerned with the quality of service you render", even as he assured that, the Council is not out to witch-hunt any operator and that it is going to be fair in all its interface with them.

In his response, General Manager, ENL Consortium, Mr. Mark Walsh assured the Executive Secretary of the full corporation from ENL terminals.

He said that his terminal is willing to have the staff of the Council on ground within its terminal so that the challenges of its operations can be tackled.

Walsh also volunteered to release information to be able to allow the Council to carry out its responsibilities successfully.

"Definitely, we want you to be on ground to know what our problems are. Without your assistance, a lot of things will not be done, we will definitely support the Council and give them anything they need" he assured.

Also speaking, Managing Director of Ports and Cargo Terminal, Mr. John Jenkings assured that Port and Cargo Terminal will cooperate with the Council to make the ports better.

"If you look around, you will see the investments we have done to our terminal and we believe that you keeping us on our toes will enable us do more" he said.