The Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) has said the seaports have become very efficient and can now compete favourably in handling regional and international transit trade.
Executive Secretary Mr. Hassan Bello spoke at the opening of the International Sea Trade and Investment Convention in Lagos. He said the new port order was being implemented to make the ports more competitive and to improve the ease of doing business.
In a paper, “Imperative of Ports Economic Regulation in Facilitating International Sea Trade and Investment in Nigeria”, Bello said the ports had witnessed radical transformation since the council was appointed the Ports Economic Regulator.
He said with economic regulation of the ports, the high level of inefficiency, which characterised the activities at the ports for decades, like unnecessary delays in the turnaround time for ships and high cargo dwell time, have become a thing of the past.
“The vacuum that existed in the past made it difficult for the nation to enjoy the gains of the program; the inefficiency in the procedures and operations of agencies and service providers and even users was adversely affecting and undermining Nigeria’s competitive advantage in international trade. But all that has changed since we took over as economic regulator for the ports. We have been addressing the anti-competition behaviours, which characterised the activities of the ports in the past”.
He said government now enjoys improved revenue generation; improved infrastructural development at the ports; creation of efficient market; reduction in cost of doing business; improvement of the nation’s Global Competitive Index and consequent attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), all as a direct benefit of ports regulation.
Bello said shipping companies were also not left out as they now enjoy improved delivery of marine and terminal handling services leading to reduced turn-around time of vessel and reduced cost of vessel operations.
He listed some of the council’s achievements to include the strengthening of complaint and arbitration mechanisms; prompt issuance of Ship Sailing Certificate and the consequent avoidance of demurrage accumulation against shipping companies and other effects.