The Nigerian Shippers Council, (NSC) the country’s ports economic regulator, says it is committed to transforming the Nigerian ports sector, by encouraging seamless transport system to enable the nation key into the multi-model concept and attain the enviable hub status in the west and central African sub-regions.
The NSC said it also has the vision to make the local ports efficient and effective to attract cargo away from competitors, to build and promote the building of modern transport infrastructure in the port industry and to guard against monopoly, as well as ensure constructive competition among the ports.
Christian Chimezie, zonal coordinator, Nigerian Shippers Council, South-East Zone, who was in Enugu recently, on a sensitisation programme, noted that the NSC, would provide level playing field for all players-service providers and the users of the services.
He observed that the maritime industry is witnessing drastic change towards seamless operations at the ports with the arrival of the NSC, which he said has created stability in the ports.
Chimezie, who was excited with the large turnout of stakeholders at the forum, noted that it was timely, now that the oil revenue is dwindling globally.
He explained that nations are diversifying their economies, through the non-oil sector and stated that the maritime sector has the greatest potential to sustain the Nigerian economy.
He said that the seminar was a major event in the activities of the South-East Zone of the Nigerian Shippers Council to create the needed awareness amongst stakeholders and the general public on the Council’s new role as the nation’s ports economic regulator.
The second cardinal objective of the seminar, according to him, was to address the implementation issues and challenges confronting the Nigerian Shippers Council in carrying out this onerous task of regulating the ports sector in Nigeria.
He expressed joy over the large turnout of Enugu business community to the seminar. “This underscores the seriousness and importance you attach to the effort of the NSC to effectively regulate the nation’s ports sector and through this assignment and growth in transport infrastructure and of course the gross domestic product (GDP)”.
He thanked the director Inland Transport Services of the Nigerian Shippers Council for approving the seminar and Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his unflinching support to the NSC.
The NSC was involved in quasi-regulation until in February, 2014, when the Federal Government recognised the importance of regulation in the ports system and appointed the Council as the Economic Regulator of Nigerian ports sector, which was Gazetted in April, 2015 and titled, Nigerian Shippers Council (Port Economic) Regulations, 2015.
By this authority by the Federal Government, the Council was given additional mandate to perform regulatory role in the ports.
The regulation covers such areas as, services, tariff and charges, information and evidence, complaints and investigations, monitoring and enforcement and miscellaneous issues, like power to issue guidelines offences, interpretations and citation.
GODFREY OFURUM
