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Tag: NSC

  • Online registration is now compulsory for regulated port service providers/users, says NSC

    Online registration is now compulsory for regulated port service providers/users, says NSC

    The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah, has announced that all service providers and users are required to register and obtain certification to be recognized as legal operators in all the seaports in Nigeria.

    The CEO of NSC made the call in Calabar on Thursday, February 9, at the launch of the User Guide booklet for stakeholders in the Calabar Port catchment area.

    Represented by the deputy director of stakeholders’ services in NSC, Celestine Akujobi, noted that the new registration portal is a milestone as the NSC upgrades from manual registration to a fully automated registration platform.

    He said: “The platform is interactive as the physical interface is eliminated. From the convenience of your office desk, your company can be registered online without having to visit any of our offices as long as you fulfil the requirements and make the necessary payments.”

    “The registration exercise is in various categories and attracts a token fee as the motive is not to generate revenue but to meet the administrative charge of running the platform, among others.”

    “All service providers and users must register and obtain a certificate of registration before they can be adjudged as legally operating at the nation’s seaports. It is therefore important to register with the NSC to avoid being sanctioned.”

    Numerating more benefits of the interactive online platform, he stated that it will assist the Economic Regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), to build a database of service providers as well as genuine shippers and other stakeholders operating in the port system.

    Also, it will enable industry practitioners to transact business and operate in a safe and secure business environment. As well as sanitizing the ports and eliminating the challenges of faceless shippers in the port system.

    Read Also: NSCDC stops five suspects from sabotaging NNPCL pipeline in Rivers

    The NSC boss noted that sanctions will be applied for failure to comply with appropriate registration and proper certification. These sanctions include cancellation of registration certificate/license to operate at Nigerian ports, denial of access to the Council’s complaints resolution mechanism, blacklisting of defaulters, and imposition of prescribed fines when needed.

    Earlier, in her welcome address, the Director of NSC, South-South zone, Glory Onojedo, represented by Mrs. Patricia Osuma averred that the Port as a critical infrastructure needs to be competitive, to guard against monopoly and free for potential players to enter and exit for its users to enjoy the benefit of competitive pricing and efficient service delivery.

    At the event, participants were guided through the application process, fee structure, annual renewal of registration, upload of required documents, and download of registration certificate.

  • SON, NSC, others eye 30% clearing cost reduction

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Shippers Council and related agencies are partnering on trade facilitation.

    This will see operators  adhere to standards, ethics, integrity and quality in service delivery and ultimately reduce clearing cost by about 30 per cent.

    Speaking at a workshop titled: “Ethics and integrity”organised by SON, in collaboration with operators, SON Director-General Osita Aboloma said adhering to a code of ethics ensures that customers and stakeholders get quality services.

    SON, he explained, has put in place an electronic procedure for goods clearance, issuance of demand notes and receipts.

    These measures, he said were aimed at reducing human interaction with clearing, and ultimately, eliminate sharp practices.

    Aboloma warned importers against false declarations and substandard products import without the offshore conformity assessment (SONCAP). He said the organisation will engage stakeholders to ensure that operators adhere to principles.

    Read also: APGA: Buhari’s policies will stabilise economy

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, said the Council was working for a 30 per cent reduction in the cost of clearing cargoes. This, he explained, followed an agreement with terminal operators and shipping firms.

    Hassan regretted that most of the charges being paid by importers were not tied to services. He said SON and NSC would not only facilitate the ease of doing business but also reduce the cost of doing business. He assured that by next month, when the agreement would have been signed, all the charges will be published for everybody to know what to pay to which agency.

    He said: “We have to take into consideration the cost of cargo; some costs are not justified. They are not tied to service and that is what we have been calling for. The shipping companies have been very understanding. We have gone through all the  costs, so that we can have a template. We are not going to control cost. But we will not allow arbitrary charges in the port in the course of clearing cargoes.”

    While urging stakeholders to adhere to international best practices, the NSC boss said the Council’s goal is to promote an efficient port system that will encourage healthy competition, enthrone transparency, facilitate trade, reduce cost of doing business and make players aware of their duties, obligations, responsibilities and liabilities. This, he said, would go a long way in actualising the Council’s drive for a new port order, reduce cost and improve efficiency.

    “With high ethical practice in place, vices, such as impunity, presumptuous behaviours and ignorance with respect to adherence to procedures, rules and regulations, will be minimised,” he said.

  • NSC seeks 25% reduction in freight cost

    The Nigerian Shippers’ council (NSC) has tarted a move that will lead to 25 per cent reduction in shipping cost on all imported cargoes into the country, it was learnt.
    Its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello said the council is currently engaging all shipping firms in the country to obtain 25 per cent reduction in shipping cost.
    The Council, it was gathered, has directed one of the shipping lines, CMA CGM to suspend the collection of $400 port congestion surcharge it unilaterally imposed on cargoes destined for the two Lagos ports.
    Bello said there was need to have a regulator in the ports to ensure commensurate cost and effectiveness.
    He said even though the port concession exercise has transformed the ports positively, there was need to ensure a stable and friendly price regime.
    “We put our ports at the disposal of the private sector which is good. In fact, we have seen some developments, the ports were not as they used to be, we no longer have port rats, we now have a modern payment system but we need a regulator to put everybody in check and encourage competition, effectiveness.
    “On the price regime, NSC is now negotiating with the shipping companies about their prices and by the time we are through, we are going to have 25 per cent reduction in shipping cost in Nigeria,” he said.

  • NSC to importers, exporters: don’t breach palletisation policy

    NSC to importers, exporters: don’t breach palletisation policy

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, has urged importers to obey the cargo palletisation policy of the Federal Government or face sanctions. The policy, Bello said, has come to stay.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos on the need for seamless operations at the Inland Dry Ports, he warned any importer against violating the order.

    The NSC helmsman said: “The palletisation issue is already on, there is no going back on it and the concerns of the critical stakeholders would always be noted and we will ensure that some of the issues are addressed,” Bello said.

    He urged stakeholders in the export and import trade value chains to be  acquainted with the export and import guidelines to avoid sanction.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had said the palletisation of cargoes coming into the country would aid manual examination of consignment, while the country awaits the acquisition and installation of functional scanners at the seaports and land borders.

    She gave January 1, 2018 as the take-off date for the new policy.

    ”In order to ensure quick clearance of import at the Nigerian ports and borders, the additional responsibilities assigned to the relevant government agencies would be carried out in a well-coordinated and collaborated manner, while the sanctions specified for non-compliance with the provisions of the guidelines would be strictly and impartially applied across board,” Mrs Adeosun said.

    Bello urged stakeholders to work together for effective operations of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port (KIDP).

    He said that such synergy would complement the Federal Government’s efforts on the Ease of Doing Business.

    According to Bello, “if we do not work together, there is no how we can achieve the benefits of the IDP.

    “Over 10 years ago, we have been on the issue of the dry ports, including railways.

    “All efforts actually come to reality with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari who told the private sector to synergise to achieve effective dry port in the country.

    “We have been working with operators and the idea is to establish modern inland dry ports and the ease of doing business must be instituted in the ports,’’ he said.

    Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Kaduna Inland Day Port; Mr. Tope Borishade, pleaded for stakeholders’ cooperation for him to achieve his mandate as a dry port operator.

    Borishade said that the KIDP would not compete with sea ports, but will collaborate to improve the ease of doing business.

    He said that Nigeria was already losing cargo to neighbouring countries and promised that KIDP would improve government’s revenue by attracting more cargo into the country.

    “Over the past decades, there have been ICNL, Kaduna State government, the Nigerian Shippers Council and the stakeholders have been working in developing this dry port. We can only take it forward with our support and cooperation. So after this, I believe we are going to have feedback from stakeholders so that we can make this work for everybody. We are not in competition with the seaports”, he said.

    The ICNL Port Manager, Mr Rotimi Rahimi, urged  the Customs to secure the recognition of dry ports by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through inclusion in the list of ports of origin and destination on the Form ‘M’ e-platform.

    “The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should develop invoice rating models for seaports and terminals as well as shipping companies that would encourage use of dry ports.

    “NPA should also engage seaport concessionaires to provide separate access for both inward and outward movement of dry port cargo.

    “Shipping companies should operate through Bill of Lading from ports of Origin to ports of Destination to process shipping documents for import and export release at the dry ports.

    “Shipping companies must have their presence in Kaduna to provide shipping services to shippers, while the terminal operators should allow shipping companies to move cargo from the ports without hindrance.

    “The concessionaires should allow 30-day rent passage for dry port cargo and should also grant priority terminal access for trucks hauling dry port cargo,” Rahimi said.

    The Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Freeborn Okhiria, said that all efforts must be geared toward improving cargo delivery.

    Okhiria urged importers and exporters to make adequate use of the dry port to boost economy.

    He expressed the commitment of the NRC to ensure 24-hour cargo delivery service at the dry port

    Okhiria said that the corporation would purchase about 10 container wagons before June to facilitate the smooth operations of the IDP, adding that the NRC would ensure that “importer and exporters enjoy the services they pay for’’.

  • NSC: we won’t compromise on ports’efficiency

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

    Bello told The Nation that automation of ports’services was necessary to drive the change needed to reform the sector to attract more cargoes.

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

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

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

    Bello said no matter how efficient a terminal is, it is extremely difficult to evacuate cargoes with good road network. “So, there must be some sort of intervention on the roads,” he said.

    According to him, this was necessary to ensure free passage of trucks in and around Apapa when they are needed to pick or drop cargoes.

    For the tank farms, Bello said there was no need for trailers to go to tank farms since there are pipelines, which are also means of transportation.

  • FG to expose Nigerian engineers to large-scale projects

    FG to expose Nigerian engineers to large-scale projects

    The Federal Government says it will expose Nigerian scientists and engineers to relevant large-scale scientific and engineering projects that will ensure long-term local contents development.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu made this known at a workshop organised by Nigerian Society of Nigeria ( NSC ) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to Onu, exposing Nigerian engineers to relevant scientist and engineering projects will increase job opportunities for Nigerian scientists and engineers as well as strengthen national self-reliance.

    He said that the government would fast-track infrastructural development course by fully encouraging Nigerian engineering firms to be the arrowhead of such developmental effort.

    “Nigeria is in dire need of sustainable social infrastructure to support the much anticipated socio-economic development.

    “We may take the easy route of becoming the world’s destination for “ready-made“ skills and products.

    “By extension, we will be offering other opportunities to advance ready-made capacities and skills which we will continue to pay for at the peril of killing our growth potential in all ramification,“ he said.

    Read also: Kaduna refinery pledges to patronize Nigerian engineers

    Onu expressed optimism that such development would positively affect fiscal activities such as relieving seemingly futile reactionary regulatory efforts on Nigeria currency foreign exchange values.

    The President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr Oliver Anyaeji, said that the awards of projects to foreign companies would neither help in effectively empowering local firms nor lead to the attainment of respective installed capacities.

    Anyaeji said that the workshop aimed to explore effect of Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) guidelines for planning and execution of projects, programmes and contracts with science, engineering and technology components.

    “It would interest you to know how the FEC guidelines for planning and execution of projects, programmes and contracts with science, engineering and technology would guarantee steady and rapid capacity building to Nigerian engineering companies.

    “We are most concerned with our basic occupational areas inclusive of engineering consulting, contracting, manufacturing, maintenance and repairs among others,’’ he said.

    The workshop examined the needs and benefits of Executive Order on Local Content inclusion via Nigerian engineering firms on projects and programmes with Science, Engineering and Technology contents“.

    NAN

  • NSC, NNPC, NEXIM Bank, others partner on truck park

    NSC, NNPC, NEXIM Bank, others partner on truck park

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) said, it is collaborating with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), NEXIM Bank and other investors to build world-class Truck Transit Park ( TTP) in Ogun State to boost the economy and generate more revenue for the government.

    Speaking with reporters at the old truk park in Ogere, along Lagos/Ibadan Epressway yesterday, its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello said the NSC would also collaborate and seek the support of the Ogun State government on the proposed park in the state.

    The construction of the park, Bello said, was part of federal government efforts in decongesting the ports access roads in Lagos and to facilitate quick cargo clearance.

    Bello who was in Ogun for on-the-spot assessment of the dilapidated trailer park  along the expressroad, said the project would be driven through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to achieve the desired results.

    He said: “This is just a trailer park. What we need is a TTP with hotels and hostels for accommodation purposes. The proposed park will have chain of restaurants and of cause petrol stations.

  • NSC demands truck transit parks

    Nigerian Shippers’Council (NSC) Executive Secretary Mr. Hassan Bello has called for the establishment of truck transit parks (TTPs) nationwide to boost cargo delivery from ports to their destinations.

    This, he said, would lead to job creation and development of the economy.

    Bello described road haulage as an important aspect of cargo delivery system, arguing that without it, the economy will suffer.

    Speaking with The Nation shortly after the National Summit on TTPs in Abuja, Bello hailed some governors and other stakeholders for their support to the sector. He said the ongoing TTP projects  would boost development, create employment and boost revenue.

    He  said he was happy with the  governors’ or their representatives’ participation at the event.“It showed that they have strong support for the projects,” he said.

    Bello, a lawyer, explained that the NSC was involved in TTPs  promotion because of the importance it attached to the development of the economy.

    He called for standardisation in the TTPs’operation, adding that there must be strong coordination of the movement of trucks from the port of departure to destinations.

    He also said there had to be tracking of the movement of trucks from the seaport to final location.

    He explained that what the council needed was a seamless transport system that would boost the economy.

    Bello said there should be a platform to know where a truck is at a particular time.

    The NSC chief said this should be taken into consideration in the construction of TTPs, so that trucks do not go far before parking.

    He however said a policy must be put in place to check proliferation of TTPs, adding that this would address poor standards.

    He said a strong enforcement  was needed to avoid trucks being  parked outside approved TTPs.

    Bello called on the private sector to provide an instrument for the enforcement of the TTP’s objectives, adding that towing vans to remove broken down trucks from the highways.

    He praised financial institutions and the Federal Road Safety Service (FRSC), for strong participation in the summit, noting that the road safety agency has played a big role in providing sanity on the roads.

  • Port charges: NSC ready to settle with firms

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is ready for settlement with shipping lines and terminal operators accused of arbitrary charges at the ports, its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Bello, has said.

    Bello, however, insisted that the charges have to be negotiated and approved and that the council was doing everything possible to find a lasting solution to the issue.

    He said: “The wheel of justice is very slow, the court has determined in the first instance that money should be paid to the system to the tune of N1 trillion which is now counting into N7 trillion. Our hands are tied; they have gone to obtain an injunction.

    “I am a lawyer, for every movement they make, we also make counter moves. We are at the Court of Appeal currently and the Court of Appeal should in the next one month take a decision. If they go to the Supreme Court, we would also go there.

    “We are not the ones who went to court; they took us to court because they don’t agree that their charges should be done in consultation.

    “We are also open to out-of-court settlement if that is the case, but the most important thing is that we have to respect the laws of this country,” Bello said.

  • Senate lists BPE, NAMA, NPA, others for submission of budget estimates

    Senate lists BPE, NAMA, NPA, others for submission of budget estimates

    The Senate has listed several federal government agencies expected to submit their 2017 budget proposals to the upper legislative chamber for consideration.

    The agencies are the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASEI), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National Maritime Authority (NMA) and Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

    Others are the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Communications Commission (NCC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    Also expected to submit their estimates are the National Insurance Commission (NIC), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

    Others are the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGZFA).