‘Shippers’ Council ready to transform Nigerian ports

The Nigerian Shippers Council, a Federal Government economic regulatory agency, says it is poised to transform the Nigerian ports sector for better performance in line with global industry standards.
Osita Chimezie, assistant director, operations, NSC, South-East zone, who revealed this at the Council’s day at the ongoing Aba International Trade Fair, explained that the NSC was determined to create the much needed level playing field in the ports sector.
According to him, with the new status as ports economic regulator, the NSC will ensure efficiency at the ports, reduction in cargo dwell time, reduction in the cost of doing business, entrenching healthy competition for the benefit of all stakeholders.
He also stated that the Council would improve in vessel turnaround time and increase in cargo throughput, which would invariably lead to increase in revenue to both government and the private investors.
He explained that the Federal Government’s decision to strengthen the Council was not only in line with international best practices in port concession, but also in accordance with the provisions of the concession agreements that brought private operators into the sector.
“The Federal Government, realising that Nigerian Shippers Council is the only government agency performing most aspects of economic regulatory roles in the ports sector, but without sufficient power of enforcement, decided to strengthen it to fill the disturbing vacuum created by the absence of an economic regulator, “ he said.
As an economic regulator, Chimezie also promised that the NSC would ensure that a level playing field was provided for all stakeholders in the sector, tariff in the ports sector were cost-reflective and fair to both service providers and users