The Senate Committee on Marine Transport was yesterday advised to focus its attention on ensuring that Nigeria acquire ships that could serve as National Carrier so as to boost the economy of the country in the maritime business.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello who gave the advise in Lagos when the Senate committee on Marine Transport paid a visit to the Council’s headquarters however said that Nigeria with about 8, 000 coastlines could not rank as a maritime nation without a national carrier.
While recalling the fact that Nigeria used to have national carrier which used to trade in Paris, Europe and other parts of the world, he marveled at the contribution acquisition of such vessels could make to the Nigerian economy.
He therefore urged the senator to focus on coming up with a legislation that would encourage the Nigerian government to acquire vessels for that purpose.
According to him,” It is very important distinguished Senators that there are key economic issues you have to be focused on; one is acquisition of ship by Nigeria. No matter what coastlines 8,000 kilometers, no matter what you do defining us as a maritime nation; nothing defines us as a maritime nation unless we have those ships and you should remember that we were having those ships before. We were trading in Paris, we were trading in Europe and everywhere and I always marvel at the contribution the freight earned could make for Nigerian economy. It is important that this is the key thing that you should focus on”.
Speaking on the activities of the Council in the last one year, Bello disclosed that the NSC through the Cargo Defense Fund won a case about a week ago for a Nigerian Stockfish importer who was being cheated by his business partner and the terminal operator to the tune of six million naira.
“ We have the Cargo Defence Fund, this is just like a legal aid for shippers who could not afford to go to court but they have been cheated. For example, about a week ago, we won a judgment for the sum of six million naira for an importer of stockfish who had been cheated by his oversees partner and the terminal operators. We battled the case and he is now six million naira richer.
“We are always doing that and we have had tremendous success, infact, there was Briton who was cheating Nigerians on this trade for a long time, through the use of Interpol, he was brought here to face justice”, he said.
The Shippers’ Council boss further said that the Council in collaboration with the Nigerian Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank was developing a Sea Link project between members of the Joint Development Zone adding that the project which was aimed at reducing cost between member countries would soon be launched.
As he put it,” The council in collaboration with the NEXIM Bank is developing a sea link project between the members of the Joint Development Zone (JDZ). The project which has undertaken a comprehensive and technical feasibility study is aimed at reducing the cost of moving cargo among the countries of JDZ and increase maritime and trade activities among them.
“The project will reduce the cost of moving cargoes among the countries in that region and improve maritime service and improve private sector initiative through the provision of efficient sea transport and tariff system. It will also reduce transportation cost and eliminate the need for cargo transshipment to Europe, increase trade volume and improve efficiency in transportation in the sub region, boost economic growth and development of Nigeria.
“Sea link project is very important, as I said, if you have to export to Ghana, the only link is to take it to Spain because there is no shipping link between here and Accra. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council had to come with NEXIM Bank for a regional cabotage if you like and this will soon be launched, this am sure will bring sanity and integration to our trade and other West African countries”.
He noted that Shippers’ council had facilitated the upgrade of inland container Nigeria Limited in Kaduna to become the first port to be there in Kaduna noting that the Federal executive Council in an official gazette had declared Kaduna dry port as port of origin and port of destination for import and export cargoes thus making Kaduna port the first dry port in Nigeria.
While observing that a total of six hundred and thirty-two (632) complains were received by the Council between 2009 and 2014 some of which had been amicably resolved, he disclosed that the council through its efforts had reduced the number of charges at the Nigerian ports from eleven (11) to six (6).
Responding, The Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima revealed that the objective of the visit was to interact with the Management and staff of the Council adding that the visit was in conformity with the change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“In the course of our oversight function, we intend to make sure that the issue of corruption in the system is eradicated so that resources will be readily available for improvement of the lives of the Nigerian people. This will of course lead to the upliftment of the standard of living of the people.
“So, I am sure that after your speech, the intention like I said is to have a few minutes interaction with the management and staff, our distinguished senators will ask questions not only based on your presentation but in line with all the functions and activities of this agency and also if there are any complain from any other sources.
“And after today’s visit, the next thing that will happen is for us to come back and inspect some of the projects that you mention and also like you said, participate in some these activities that you have just mentioned”, he said.
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