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Tag: Hassan Bello

  • Shippers’ council chief wins BMG Man of the Year award

    EXECUTIVE Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Hassan Bello has won the prestigious BMG Man of the Year award for 2018.

    The award is presented to chief executives of Federal Government agencies and those in the private sector, whose services impact heavily on the economy.

    The award followed a careful but comprehensive audit of the performance of the NSC as the No. 1 defender and protector of the interests of Nigerian shippers in 2018.

    In arriving at this decision, the Editorial Board of BMG looked at the history of the council from its formative years, under the foundational leadership of Dr. B.U Ekong, through the leadership of Dr. Kingsley Usoh, an astute technocrat to the days of Chief Adebayo Sarumi.

    The BMG board concluded that Bello had consolidated and deepened the enormous potential in the maritime industry, which Nigeria was now enjoying.

    ‘’In fact,  Nigerian Shippers’ Council, under Hassan Bello, has not only redefined its roles as maritime regulator, but has asserted its place as a wonderful protector of the rights of consumers of shipping services and products not only in Nigeria but in the maritime domain in the Gulf of Guinea.’’

    The Shippers’ Complaints Desk has become the first port of call for shippers with genuine complaints while seeking solutions to their import/export problems.

    BMG added that under Bello, the impunity of international shipping companies had come under scrutiny, as most arbitrary charges had been reversed. This, it said, had added value to the Ease of Doing Business at the ports.

  • 90 percent of goods brought in via ports under-declared, says NSC

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has disclosed that 90 percent of the goods brought into Nigeria through ports are under-declared.

    The Council said the act has led to huge loss of revenue by the federal government.

    The Council also said there was no need for Nigeria to depend on oil stating that the transport sector has the capacity to finance Nigerian budget.

    This was disclosed in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Barr. Hassan Bello during a courtesy call on the Ag. Chiarman of Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commissiont (ICPC), Dr. Musa Abubakar.

    Bello said: “No matter how hard we try to bring development, there are two key issues; security and corruption. If we don’t fight these, then I am afraid that the progress will not be much.

    “Corruption at our the ports and the transport system is particularly damaging to the economy of this country.”

    On steps made to curb corruption at the ports, Bello said: “We have unveiled a technology we put at the port that will make us know when the containers arrive,  their position and everything.  So the issues  of dwell time of cargo and collision will be a thing of the past.

    “We also have the Cargo Tracking Note or Advance Cargo Information System. 90 percent of goods coming into Nigeria are under-declared.  It is not the value. There is massive connivance to reduce the value of goods so that people don’t pay the actual import duty.

    “Government is loosing a lot of revenue and there is so much leakage. If we introduce the Advance Cargo Tracking Note (ACTN), the value of goods coming in will be known. So there will be no hiding.”

    He also said the device has the capacity to reduce proliferation of firearms and other illegal items.

    “The amount of weapons coming in and other illegal things coming in through the sea borders is alarming. With the ACTN, there is no how we will not have information about what is happening and it will help reduce how these illegal arms are brought into the country.

    Bello also said the transport sector has the capacity to finance the budget of the country if the activities at the ports and the transport system are well streamlined.

    He said: “Transport sector can finance the budget of this country. The is so much in the transport sector but it needs to depend on oil. There is so much wealth and productivity in the port but we just need to release it from the clutches of corruption.”

    Responding, the Ag. Chairman of ICPC pledged to continue to collaborate with the Council as to boost the country’s revenue.

  • My plan for ports, by Shippers Council boss

    My plan for ports, by Shippers Council boss

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is determined to make the ports more efficient to enable them compete with those of neighbouring countries, its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, has said.

    Bello told The Nation that operators and other stakeholders should collaborate with the government to make the ports attractive, competitive and the sub-region’s preferred cargo destination.

    The collaboration, he said, was necessary to drive the change needed to reform the sector to attract more cargoes.

    He said NSC was working closely with the government and private operators in order to create a level-playing field for all.

    “The council is looking for an equilibrium that is needed in port operation, and that is why we interact with the operators regularly.

    “The port system is a representation of various interests and everybody has a target. That is why there is need for a neutral observer that will bring everybody together.

    “That is what Nigerian Shippers’ Council is doing to cement the relationship so that synergy will be brought to bear for the positive contribution of shipping to the nation’s economy.

    “The more cargo we have, the more it translates to economic growth; the more it translates to employment; building of new infrastructure and making transportation the driver of the nation’s economy,”he said.

    According to him, the complaints by port users, shippers and shipping companies vary, adding that  the complaints were meant to right certain wrongs. Some complaints, he said, were monetary, and some, lack of equipment and short-landing of goods.

    The Council, he said, had been persuasive with its regulatory power to eradicate the challenges hindering port operations and making Nigerian ports the preferred cargo destination. To him, genuine automation of ports operations would increase efficiency and decrease waste.

    The effect of these, according to him, would be making the ports attractive with increased volumes of cargo, which again would enhance government revenue.

    He said there will be more employment and the ports will then become the preferred destination for importers.

    “If it is five days in port A and it is one day in port B, I will rather go to port B because it is the economies of scale that determines which port is used. We have made it possible for us to make that comparison within the sub-consciousness of the national discourse on the economy.

    “It is important for our ports to be efficient and our ports are picking up now. Corruption is what we have been talking about and there are many ways to kill corruption and one of them is automation because the moment you have automation, corruption will just disappear. With the introduction of electronic payment platform, what took place in six days then, will now take place in six seconds.

    “Some of the delays have been eliminated by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the agency is also trying to introduce other electronic system of doing things, the same thing with Customs,” he said.

    The NSC boss urged the government to take a deliberate action to address many challenges confronting the port system through consistent and predictable policies.

    Investors, he said, needed certainty and ease of doing business in Nigeria, which could be brought about by the government intervention, especially in the 1gridlock at-  Apapa.

    According to him, no matter how efficient a terminal is, if there is no road to evacuate cargoes, how can you do it? So, there must be some level of intervention.

    “The ideas are to have an electronic passage to ensure that a truck is only in Apapa when it is needed to pick or drop cargo. Then the tank farms, we don’t need trailers to go to tank farms because we have the pipeline, which is also a means of transportation.

    “The moment we have these pipelines pumping to Mosimi and other flow stations, then we don’t need tankers in Apapa.

    “We cannot rely only on access road, ports should be accessible by road, rail, inland water ways and pipelines because the port is not a storage place for cargo at all.”

    Bello also said the NSC is also establishing Truck Transit Parks along major highways in the country to help address the challenges of trucks parking along major roads in the country, adding that  the project is Public Private Partnership (PPP) aimed at reducing incidences of road congestion and loss of cargoes due to indiscriminate parking by truck drivers.

    The executive secretary explained that the council, in partnership with states, would build modern parks with hotels, restaurants, filling stations and garages for repair and maintenance of vehicles.

    According to him, the facility will also have weigh measures not only for trucks, but also small cars travelling at night can stop over there and stay because there will be security. This will provide revenue for the state government because there will be employment for people and other small businesses can spring up also.

    “We have secured a land from Kogi State government along Abuja road, Enugu State government has also given us land in Obolo Afor and other state governments have indicated interest in the project,” he said, adding that the Council will soon introduce modern cargo tracking system.

    According to Bello, introducing cargo tracking device will help in revenue blockage and assist the Nigeria Customs  Service (NCS) in its revenue collection. He added that the Cargo Tracking and Advanced Cargo Information System is a trade facilitation system, which involves advance electronic transmission of cargo manifest ahead of the ships’ arrival.

    “Cargo tracking and advanced cargo information system is a trade facilitation system, which was introduced by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and is being supported by the Nigeria Customs Service.

    “The device is used to block revenue leakages at the ports. It enables Customs to place the correct duty on every cargo. We wouldn’t be having all these smuggling if we have the advanced cargo information system,” he said.

     

  • My plan for ports, by Shippers Council boss

    My plan for ports, by Shippers Council boss

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is determined to make the ports more efficient to enable them compete with those of neighbouring countries, its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, has said.

    Bello told The Nation that operators and other stakeholders should collaborate with the government to make the ports attractive, competitive and the sub-region’s preferred cargo destination.

    The collaboration, he said, was necessary to drive the change needed to reform the sector to attract more cargoes.

    He said NSC was working closely with the government and private operators in order to create a level-playing field for all.

    “The council is looking for an equilibrium that is needed in port operation, and that is why we interact with the operators regularly.

    “The port system is a representation of various interests and everybody has a target. That is why there is need for a neutral observer that will bring everybody together.

    “That is what Nigerian Shippers’ Council is doing to cement the relationship so that synergy will be brought to bear for the positive contribution of shipping to the nation’s economy.

    “The more cargo we have, the more it translates to economic growth; the more it translates to employment; building of new infrastructure and making transportation the driver of the nation’s economy,”he said.

    According to him, the complaints by port users, shippers and shipping companies vary, adding that  the complaints were meant to right certain wrongs. Some complaints, he said, were monetary, and some, lack of equipment and short-landing of goods.

    The Council, he said, had been persuasive with its regulatory power to eradicate the challenges hindering port operations and making Nigerian ports the preferred cargo destination. To him, genuine automation of ports operations would increase efficiency and decrease waste.

    The effect of these, according to him, would be making the ports attractive with increased volumes of cargo, which again would enhance government revenue.

    He said there will be more employment and the ports will then become the preferred destination for importers.

    “If it is five days in port A and it is one day in port B, I will rather go to port B because it is the economies of scale that determines which port is used. We have made it possible for us to make that comparison within the sub-consciousness of the national discourse on the economy.

    “It is important for our ports to be efficient and our ports are picking up now. Corruption is what we have been talking about and there are many ways to kill corruption and one of them is automation because the moment you have automation, corruption will just disappear. With the introduction of electronic payment platform, what took place in six days then, will now take place in six seconds.

    “Some of the delays have been eliminated by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the agency is also trying to introduce other electronic system of doing things, the same thing with Customs,” he said.

    The NSC boss urged the government to take a deliberate action to address many challenges confronting the port system through consistent and predictable policies.

    Investors, he said, needed certainty and ease of doing business in Nigeria, which could be brought about by the government intervention, especially in the 1gridlock at-  Apapa.

    According to him, no matter how efficient a terminal is, if there is no road to evacuate cargoes, how can you do it? So, there must be some level of intervention.

    “The ideas are to have an electronic passage to ensure that a truck is only in Apapa when it is needed to pick or drop cargo. Then the tank farms, we don’t need trailers to go to tank farms because we have the pipeline, which is also a means of transportation.

    “The moment we have these pipelines pumping to Mosimi and other flow stations, then we don’t need tankers in Apapa.

    “We cannot rely only on access road, ports should be accessible by road, rail, inland water ways and pipelines because the port is not a storage place for cargo at all.”

    Bello also said the NSC is also establishing Truck Transit Parks along major highways in the country to help address the challenges of trucks parking along major roads in the country, adding that  the project is Public Private Partnership (PPP) aimed at reducing incidences of road congestion and loss of cargoes due to indiscriminate parking by truck drivers.

    The executive secretary explained that the council, in partnership with states, would build modern parks with hotels, restaurants, filling stations and garages for repair and maintenance of vehicles.

    According to him, the facility will also have weigh measures not only for trucks, but also small cars travelling at night can stop over there and stay because there will be security. This will provide revenue for the state government because there will be employment for people and other small businesses can spring up also.

    “We have secured a land from Kogi State government along Abuja road, Enugu State government has also given us land in Obolo Afor and other state governments have indicated interest in the project,” he said, adding that the Council will soon introduce modern cargo tracking system.

    According to Bello, introducing cargo tracking device will help in revenue blockage and assist the Nigeria Customs  Service (NCS) in its revenue collection. He added that the Cargo Tracking and Advanced Cargo Information System is a trade facilitation system, which involves advance electronic transmission of cargo manifest ahead of the ships’ arrival.

    “Cargo tracking and advanced cargo information system is a trade facilitation system, which was introduced by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and is being supported by the Nigeria Customs Service.

    “The device is used to block revenue leakages at the ports. It enables Customs to place the correct duty on every cargo. We wouldn’t be having all these smuggling if we have the advanced cargo information system,” he said.

  • Trucks used in Nigeria are over 30 years old – FRSC Corp Marshal

    Trucks used in Nigeria are over 30 years old – FRSC Corp Marshal

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) yesterday decried the poor state of the trucks on the highways across the country.

    The FRSC disclosed that some of the trucks that travel on the highways are over 30 years.

    This, the Corp said has contributed to their frequent breakdowns and obstruction on the highway.

    To however address the poor state of the fleet, the FRSC and Nigeria Shippers Council signed a MoU; ‘Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme.

    The MoU which is expected to set standard for the operation of fleet across the country would also assist in data collection of truck drivers and owners.

    This was disclosed in Abuja when the MoU was signed by both agencies.

    Speaking on the importance of the scheme, the FRSC Corp Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi said: “We would partner with them to ensure that the parks they want to construct are appropriately located.

    “The Scheme provides for all the truck owners to register with the corps and it will make us have a joint database and with that, we should be able to tell the country how many trucks we have for planning and economic purposes.”

    On the poor state of the trucks, Oyeyemi said: “We should also be able to tell the state of these vehicles in order to encourage government to work on re-fleeting because most of these trucks on the highways are over 30 years and that is why we experience frequent breakdowns, especially in areas where the roads are bad.

    “We need to tell government the actual number of trucks available and their lifespan in order for government to assist in the re-fleeting, maybe through the Bank of Industry ( BOI ) or through any other means.

    “The truck owners are really in dare need of a life-saving intervention in terms of re-fleeting. We are battling with old trucks and there is an urgent need to really address this”.

    The Corp Marshal also noted that the implementation of the scheme which is immediate would carry stakeholders in the transport sector along.

    “The implication is that all truck owners must now comply with the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme. We need to get it right to stop all these indiscriminate parking, accidents, on the highway and once the drivers know that they are fully registered and can be punished, they will sit up.”

    Also seapking, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello said the scheme when implemented would boost the economy of the  country and help in the decongestion of roads.

    He also said the initiative would ensure quick delivery and distribution of goods adding that the first set of parks would be located in Enugu and Kogi States.

    He said: “We are concerned just like the FRSC about free movement of goods, the delivery of goods, good transport infrastructure.

    “As you know, 90 percent of the goods that come into Nigeria are distributed by road, so it is important we have not only the good road as an infrastructure but we should have supporting facilities like the Truck Transit Parks to ensure smooth delivery.

    On the essence of the MoU signed, Bello said: “it would help to standardize the vehicles because if you look at the fleet,  they are rickety and old and we need to start refleeting of these trucks.

    “Refleeting would help us look at the economic indices. We have been working with Automobile Council to see how it could be done and the truckers themselves”.

  • Osinbajo re-appoints Hassan Bello 

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has re-appointed Mr. Hassan Bello as Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’Council for another four-year term.

    A June 9 letter, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, S. Zakari, said Prof Osinbajo re-appointed Bello in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act, Cap 133, LFN 2004.

    Bello, a lawyer, was first appointed  in 2013, following the expiration of the tenure of Capt Adamu Biu.

  • ‘No compromise on ports efficiency, says shippers’ council

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), is committed to ensuring efficiency at the ports to make them compete with those in neighbouring countries, its Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, has said.

    Bello said automation of the ports’ services was necessary to drive the change needed to reform the sector to attract more cargoes into the country.

    He said ports automation and the establishment of the Truck Transit Parks would increase efficiency and decrease waste, adding that openness would facilitate cargo clearance.

    “If it is five days in port A and it is one day in port B, I will rather go to port B because it is the economies of scale that determines which port is used. We have made it possible for us to make that comparison within the sub-consciousness of the national discourse on the economy.

    “It is important for our ports to be efficient and our ports are picking up now. Corruption is what we have been talking about and there are many ways to kill corruption and one of them is automation because the moment you have automation, corruption will just disappear. With the introduction of their electronic payment platform, what took place in six days then, now takes place in six seconds.

    “Some of the delays have been eliminated by NPA and the agency is also trying to introduce other electronic system of doing things, the same thing with Customs.’’

    The NSC boss urged the government to take a deliberate action to address many challenges confronting the port system through consistent and predictable policies.

    He said that investors needed certainty and ease of doing business in Nigeria which could be brought about by government intervention, especially in the gridlock at Apapa.

    According to him, no matter how efficient a terminal is, if you don’t have the road to evacuate cargos, how can you do it. So there must be some level of intervention.

    “The ideas are to have an electronic passage to ensure that a truck is only in Apapa when it is needed to pick or drop cargo. Then the thank farms, we don’t need trailers tanker to go to tank farms because we have the pipeline which is also a means of transportation.

    “The moment we have these pipelines pumping to Mosimi and other flow stations, then we don’t need tankers in Apapa.

    “We cannot rely only on one access like road; port should be accessible by road, rail, inland water ways and pipelines because the port is not a storage place for cargo at all.’’

    Bello also said that NSC is also establishing Truck Transit Parks along major highways in the country to help address the challenges of trucks parking along major roads in the country. He said the project was Public Private Partnership (PPP) aimed at reducing incidences of road congestion and loss of cargos due to indiscriminate parking by truck drivers.

    The executive secretary explained that the council, in partnership with state governments, would build modern parks that would have hotels, restaurants, filing stations and garages for repair and maintenance of vehicles.

  • FG to create jobs through dry ports – Amaechi

    FG to create jobs through dry ports – Amaechi

    The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to establish dry ports or Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in the country to create jobs for unemployed youths and diversify the economy.

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi said this on Tuesday during the final inspection of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port.

    “We are doing everything possible to create jobs. Whatever we need to do to get the port running, we will do it.

    “The rail will soon start running before the end of the year, which will be used to deliver goods at the port.

    “Everything is set for commissioning because we have the land, warehouse and all but we want to wait for the completion of the roads.

    “We want to wait for more activities in the dry port before we get the president to commission it.

    “I have visited Jos and they are doing a good job and they promised to be ready by June. I have visited Kaduna and what I have seen is commendable”, he said.

    Amaechi commended the Kaduna State Government, saying “the job it is doing is very good”.

    He said the contributions from the government were high, adding the support was appreciated.

    The Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said that the initiative was from the previous administration.

    He said that the state government would provide the necessary infrastructure needed to implement the initiative.

    He said that the government would fix the roads leading to the port and create more exits to avoid the congestion being experienced at the Apapa port.

    “We inherited this project from the previous administration and we thought it was a project worthy of our support and we did everything we could to make sure it works.

    “We tried to do whatever we could to ensure that the infrastructure that is required to make the project a reality is done.

    “The road will be reconstructed with concrete pavement and we realised that we do not want to replicate the problem of Apapa port because it only has one exit and one entry”, El-Rufai said.

    The governor, however, urged the company to employ the indigenes and talented youths of the state to reduce the challenge of unemployment.

    “We want to support this work because 85 per cent of the population of Kaduna State consists of young people below the age of 35 and our biggest challenge; and our economic policy focus on creation of jobs.

    “So, I appeal to you to make the best use of the facility.

    “The Kaduna State Government will be a partner and we will direct all the companies that we are attracting to Kaduna to use this facility.

    He appealed that the local people should be used for them to benefit from the project rather than “importing import people from other states”.

    “Kaduna State has talents. We have young people here and we expect you to give preference to them”, he added.

    Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, appreciated the state government and the Federal Government for their support for the project.

    He said that among all states where inland dry port was located, Kaduna gave the highest support in ensuring that the project was completed.

    Bello, however, appealed to the state government to construct accessible roads and provide proper infrastructure for the importation and exportation of cargoes.

    He said that the Kaduna Inland dry port could be used for imports and exports to and from all over the world.

  • Kaduna Dry Port to commence operation soon – NSC

    Kaduna Dry Port to commence operation soon – NSC

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) says the Kaduna Dry Port has been completed and is set to commence operation after final inspection in June.

    The Executive Secretary of the council, Hassan Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, that the Kaduna port was the first to be completed in the country.

    Bello said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would embark on the final inspection of the completed Kaduna Dry Port in June to ensure that it meets international standard.

    He said that the first inspection was undertaken by the shippers council to ensure that everything was properly done ahead of the second and final inspection to be carried out by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    “The inspection is to ensure that it meets international standard, in terms of security, accessibility; having access to roads, in terms of pavement and also warehouse for both import and export.

    “And also provision of offices for regulatory authorities like Customs, Shippers council and Traffic management.

    “This dry port is the only one for now in Nigeria for exports; goods can be exported to other part of the world to diversify the economy, “ Bello said.

    The shippers council executive secretary, however, said that railway was vital to the success of dry ports, and expressed the hope that all ports would be linked to rail lines.

    NAN reports that work on the Kaduna dry port, funded by the shippers council and Kaduna State Government, lasted for three years.

  • NSC seeks introduction of Admiralty laws in universities

    The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, has suggested the introduction of Admiralty Laws in the curriculum of Nigerian Universities.

    Bello made the suggestion when members of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) visited the NSC’s headquarters in Lagos.

    He called for collaboration between the council and the maritime lawyers to promote maritime laws and address critical matters in the industry.

    According to him, the Nigerian Shippers Council and the Nigerian Maritime Law Association had over the years had robust relationship.

    He urged the association to continue with the spirit of collaboration to enable the industry attain the hub status in the West and Central Africa sub-region.

    Bello told the visiting team that the legislators had demanded for Maritime Seminar for Legislator to enable them to be familiar with maritime laws.

    He said that this would go a long way in addressing the delay being experienced during passage of maritime laws and would also speed the passage of pending maritime laws.

    Bello said that the council being the Economic regulator was concerned with the ease of doing business at the ports.

    He said that many terminal operators and government agencies had keyed into the automotive system of cargo clearance, which had reduced the time of cargo clearance.

    The President of NMLA, Mr. Chidi Ilogu, said that the association was saddled with the responsibility of making Nigerian ports friendlier by making maritime laws more understandable by the legislators.

    “Boosting our international trade is part of our economic diversification and our maritime sector should be positioned to support our agricultural products.

    “Supporting our agricultural products is another way of diversifying the economy and for us to have a robust, efficient judicial system to support our economic development.

    “Judges and lawyers should be abreast of contemporary developments in the maritime sector,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Ilogu as saying.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari during the Maritime Seminar for Judges held in June 2016 described the maritime sector as the best alternative revenue source in the face of falling oil and gas foreign currency inflows.

    The NMLA president said that the maritime industry had potential for employment and investments.

    He said that to remove corruption out of the maritime industry, there was need to have lucid, clear, simple and predictable rules governing economic activities.

    Ilogu said that the council had been directed to champion the introduction of at least the basics of maritime laws in the curricula of all schools, especially Faculties of Law of Nigerian Universities.

    He said that the NSC would collaborate with the NUC to introduce Maritime Law in Faculties of Law in Nigerian Universities.

    Also speaking the Vice President of the association, Mr. Mike Igbokwe, said that availability of manpower to handle maritime law in various universities should be put into consideration.

    Igbokwe said that government should look into some of the policies affecting the maritime industry.

    He suggested that government should also empower its agencies for adequate provisions of their enabling Act.

    “There is need for government to critically look into cargo diversion and come up with maritime policies which would enable full implementation of importation and exportation of goods.

    “There is need to look at relevant laws and for us to act on to enable the maritime industry to achieve more success, ‘’ NAN quotes Igbokwe as saying.

    The Secretary of the Association, Mr Adedoyin Afun, said that over-lapping maritime laws was affecting the growth of the maritime industry.

    Afun said that laws such as the Merchant Shipping Act and others could be critically looked at before putting it before the National Assembly.

    He suggested looking into all the enabling laws, identify the outdated ones and provide solutions, before presenting them to the appropriate authorities for action.

    An Executive member of the association, Mrs. Jean Chiazor-Anishere, commended the efforts of the council for putting many things into consideration to ensure that Nigerian ports operate a fully automotive system to reduce the time of doing business at the ports.

    Chiazor-Anishere urged the Council with the Committee constituted by the Minister of Transportation, which was domiciled in the council, to look into the introduction of Admiralty law in Nigerian universities.

    She also urged the committee to look into training the legislators on maritime laws.

    “Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Committee have successfully established maritime law courses in the University of Lagos and one other university in the country.

    “Introduction of Maritime Law in the curriculum of Nigerian universities will help provide a clear understanding of maritime issues.

    “It is expected that the teaching of the subject, will help speed up complex maritime cases like impounding of vessels and prosecution,’’ NAN quotes Chiazor-Anishere as saying.

    In her closing remarks, the 2nd Vice President of NMLA, Mrs. Funke Agbor, said that NMLA was the only recognised branch of the Comite Maritime International (CMI) in Nigeria, to ensure that “Admiralty law is taught in universities at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels’’.