Following concerns by stakeholders that safety and health regulations issued by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry Health to contain the spread of the Coronavirus otherwise known as Covid-19 pandemic were not being observed at the various terminals at the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Shippers’ the Council (NSC) has assigned its officers to the various shipping companies and terminals to assist in ensuring that all safety and health regulations issued by the authorities are strictly adhered to during these times.
In a statement in Lagos on Sunday, the Management of the Council further noted that NSC cannot over-emphasize the importance of all port users, particularly freight forwarders, conducting themselves responsibly and adhering to health guidelines as they go about their very essential business.
The statement stated that in view of the importance of the continuation of port operations as essential services which was highlighted by President Muhammadu Buhari in his March 29, 2020 address, Nigerian Shippers’ Council had been engaging with all stakeholders under its purview to ensure that safety and health guidelines were strictly adhered to so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“In a related development, underscoring the importance of port operations, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, had during the daily COVID-19 briefing in the past week referred to his conversation with the ES/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello in which it was confirmed that some banks had agreed to open for business in the Apapa axis for a limited number of hours in order to facilitate port operations.
“The SGF explained that at the onset of the lockdown, banking halls had been marked out as potential risk zones for Covid-19.
“However, a review of that thinking became necessary when it emerged that banks had to open for people to pay custom duties and other charges”, the statement said.
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