Stakeholders At Eastern Ports Absolve Shippers Council Of Bias As Economic Regulator

Maritime stakeholders at eastern ports have absolved the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) of any bias in the performance of its roles as the Port Economic Regulator.
In separate interviews with our correspondents last week in Port Harcourt, some of the stakeholders faulted opponents of Shippers Council’s role, stating that since the new role was given to the Council, it has been fair to all parties.

Maritime stakeholders at eastern ports have absolved the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) of any bias in the performance of its roles as the Port Economic Regulator.
In separate interviews with our correspondents last week in Port Harcourt, some of the stakeholders faulted opponents of Shippers Council’s role, stating that since the new role was given to the Council, it has been fair to all parties.
One of them; Chief Daniel  Okeke, Managing Director  of Express Concern International Limited said that the NSC described the negative comments made in a recent times by a certain individual as being in bad faith and informed by selfishness.
He said that some of the foreign firms were worried as NSC is making efforts to steamline some abnormalities militating against trade facilitation, particularly as it concerns non – uniformity in tariff charges across ports in the country.
On his part, a freight forwarder’; Sir Sam Epi, who is  Managing Director of Cloverleaf Shipping Limited in Port Harcourt, said that NSC is not biased as an economic regulator of the ports. He said the allegation that NSC is biased have no basis, noting that NSC since its appointment as port economic regulator has been professional and fair to all.
He challenged those that allege favoritism towards importers or clearing agents to come forward with such instances.
‘’I want to believe that there is need for all concerned maritime stakeholders to give NSC as the new economic regulators the needed support to do their job, by removing all bottlenecks militating against facilitation of trade’’, Sir Sam Epi stated.
He said the over dominance of some foreign firm in the Eastern ports is not giving room for local content development. He cautioned Nigerians to stop being used by multi – national firms in fighting against the interest of Nigerians.
He advised operators in Nigerian maritime sector to give NSC the needed support to do the work as port economic regulators.
Also, a traditional ruler;  Obong Patrick Udoh, who is also Managing Director, Patmon told journalists in Port Harcourt that  attacks on Shippers Council as misguided. He said lack of a regulator, prior to the appointment of NSC was responsible for congestion of Lagos ports.
He cautioned multi – national firms against ganging up against NSC, assuring that NSC will not take side, but will be fair to all in the discharge of its functions.