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Tag: NSC

  • ‘NSC committed to efficiency at ports’

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, has assured that the Council is committed to ensuring efficiency at the nation’s ports to compete favourably with neighbouring countries.

    Speaking with The Nation, Bello said that 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 automation of ports operations would increases efficiency, decrease waste, adding that openness would interrogate the system and process of cargo clearance.

    He said the effect was that people would be attracted to ports with increased volumes of cargo, which would then enhance the revenue of government. According to him, 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 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 on only 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 states government, would build modern parks that would have hotels, restaurants, filing 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 there 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 Kaduna State has indicated interest in the project.”When we introduced this issue, the Kaduna state government particularly became extremely interested and now they have advertised for people to take interest because it is modern and a cash cow.’’

     

  • One year after, NSC gets pass mark

    One year after, NSC gets pass mark

    Since the Federal Government appointed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the economic regulator of the ports over a year ago, stakeholders have endorsed the agency as a transformer. It creditably bridged the gap in the port reform process and provided a level playing ground for all players. Stakeholders confirmed they are reaping the benefits of the new regulator. They called for the transformation of NSC into National Transport Commission (NTC) and passage into law of the Port and Harbour Bill by the National Assembly. Maritime Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA reports.

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) was established in 1978 to protect the interests of  shippers by providing adequate and up-to-date trade information to importers and exporters and the international shipping and business community.

    The NSC’s complaints unit,  which addresses the challenges facing shippers, works with associations all over the country.

    The NCS oversees the execution and conceptualisation of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFS).

    On March 15, 2006, the Federal Executive Council okayed the commencement of Inland Container Depot (ICD) project in six locations  under Build,Operate,Own and Transfer (BOOT) agreement. The  policy was gazetted via an Official Gazette No.30 Volume 94 of May 21, 2007.

    The ICD facilities are located in Isiala-Ngwa, Aba, Abia State, Ibadan in Oyo State, Kano in Kano State, Jos in Plateau State, and Maiduguri.

    Through the efforts of the NSC, the Kaduna Inland Container Depot (ICD) became a port of origin and final destination for imports and exports.

    The  NSC, under Mr Hassan Bello, stakeholders said, deserved commendation for breaking the jinx of the delayed take-off of the ICDs.

    It also supported the creation of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

    But the inability of the NSC to moderate the shipping lines made some terminal operators and shipping lines to take advantage of the loopholes in the CRFFN Act to violate the agreement,

    For years, the shipping agents  dared the Council and saw it as a toothless bulldog. The issue was compounded by the failure of the National Assembly to pass into law the Port and Harbour Bill.

     

    Port concession agreement

    The ports were concessioned in 2006 by the Federal Government without a regulator. As a result, stakeholders noticed that the service providers were taking advantage of this vacuum.

    When the agitation got heightened, the Federal Government in February 2014 appointed the NSC as the Economic Regulator of the ports. The  new role was given to the Council  few months after Bello, a lawyer, assumed duties as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the agency.

    At a maritime seminar for judges organised by the Council  in Abuja, stakeholders in the industry were happy that President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed the NSC as the regulator.

    Participants said NSC had to be allowed to transform into the proposed National Transport Commission (NTC). Many of them argued that the NSC had taken many positive steps within two years to get their support and gain their confidence.

    Even Buhari said the NSC had lived up to its billing as a regulator by encouraging transparency, enhanced efficiency and promotion of competitiveness to make the sea ports viable, competitive and attractive to business and become the hub in the sub-region.

     NSC as a regulator

    Speaking with The Nation, Bello said: “In our capacity as the port economic regulator, our role is to consult, coordinate, moderate and harmonise the various processes and procedures with a view to achieving operational efficiency at our ports. Where there is unreasonable resistance, we shall not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions to ensure compliance. We shall remain open, independent, neutral and consultative and all decisions will be based on the buy in of stakeholders. We are also to assess options for competition; to decide on entry rules; to regulate on pricing freedom; to monitor outcomes and all that.

    “Effective regulation requires much more than just competent economic and financial analysis, but must also manage often complex interaction with the regulated firms, consumers, politicians, courts, the media, and a range of other interests.”

     

    Making the ports

    attractive

     To make the ports attractive, Bello said the Council had established a platform for agencies, operators, port users and stakeholders.

    “We are working with other government agencies to make our ports competitive and attractive in the global market. We are also working with the CBN, Customs and other relevant stakeholders so that every payment made in the maritime domain is reflected on the platform. In doing this, we have designed a tem-plate and standard tariff system that will ensure 30 to 40 per cent reduction in cost to achieve harmony in tariff. This involves all service providers. The system harmonises every transaction in such a way that transfer of containers to off-dock terminal does not attract extra charge in terms of payment of royalty to the terminal operator  as it amounts to double charges to the shippers.

    “The  idea of harmonising the system creates transparency as the importer trades with certainty as to how much to pay and how long to take delivery of the goods. This new port order will eliminate all the wastages in the system so that the cost of doing business is reduced. Part of the arrangement is that the owner of the cargo should know when his cargo arrives to prepare him to make arrangements to clear his goods on time.”

    According to Bello, the Council  was streamlining and professionalising freight forwarding to strengthen its position at the ports. ‘’We prefer to have them in companies rather than individuals,”  he added.

    Reduction in arbitrary charges

    The  NSC has ensured that neither the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) nor any service provider imposes inunauthorised charges and levies at the ports without facing a stiff reaction.

    For instance, in 2014, the NSC reduced the unapproved charges by the concessionaires and increased the three-day free period in which cargo would not pay rents at the ports to five days. The agency after directing the refund of container deposits within  seven days, it also reduced the terminal charges of the foreign shipping companies.

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ( ANLCA) President Prince Olayiwola Shittu gave kudos to the leadership of NSC for taking the bold steps. The steps taken by NSC, Shittu said, has sanitised the issue of unapproved charges at the ports.

    He said the concessionaires would benefit immensely from the new port order being championed by the NSC.

    NSC, he said, had  saved them and their investments from undue interference and guaranteed them positive return on investments, which is the ultimate goal of their labour.

    “Since its appointment as port economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council has contributed significantly  to the nation’s  economy and we urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Port and Habour Bill.

    Shittu said importers and clearing agents standard tariff system that will facilitate the reduction of tariff in the nation’s seaports to between 30 and 40 per cent, adopted measures to get loan facilities for truckers to enable them purchase new vehicles as well as working towards a new port order that will ensure efficiency and transparency in the activities of stakeholders in the sector.

    Importers and exporters operating at the port said they were happy with the NSC as port economic regulator because of their achievement.

    J2 Man Hour Limited Chairman, Mr. Roimi Onakoya, said the NSC had done well as a regulator.

    He said the Council would enable the Lagos ports to emerge as the hub  for other ports in the West and Central Africa sub-regions.

    A maritime lawyer and don, Mr. Dipo Alaka, urged Nigerians to support the Coucil.

    Alaka said he was happy that the NSC had ensured the  professionalisation of freight forwarding by eliminating touting, sanitisation of the port environment; and harmonisation of clearing processes and procedure and the  reduction of clearing charges.

     

    Gains of the new reulator The Federal Government and other agencies like NPA, Customs, NIMASA ,Alaka said, had benefited from the activities of the Council through improved revenue generation, infrastructural development, creation of efficient market, reduction in the cost of doing business, improvement of the nation’s global competitive index and the attraction of foreign direct investment.

  • NSC moves to increase patronage of Nigerian ports

    NSC moves to increase patronage of Nigerian ports

    The Nigerian Shippers Council has moved to increase patronage in the nation’s ports by sanitising the activities of practitioners.

    The South East Zonal Coordinator of the council, Mr. Chimezie Osita Christian, stated this yesterday in Abakaliki during a sensitisation campaign in the state.

    He said that in the past, businessmen were importing goods through neighbouring countries because they lacked confidence in the country’s ports and how it was run.

    “But today, the situation has changed as the council has made sweeping changes which have seen the stakeholders returning to the ports”, he said.

    He said the ports have the capacity of generating huge incomes for the country, especially now that the country’s major source of revenue, the oil sector, is dwindling.

    Chimezie said contrary to insinuations from some stakeholders in the shipping industry, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is not a toothless bulldog as it has in the past sanctioned practitioners for various sharp practices.

    According to him, the council has come up with procedures in the ports which have brought sanity to the hitherto chaotic situation in the industry.

    He also debunked accusations by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) that the council does not have an enforcement unit.

    “Nigerian Shippers Council is a regulator and we regulate all those agencies that have something to do with cargoes, ports. So, we have an enforcement power given to us. In fact, we have an enforcement power in council that monitors compliance and enforces sanctions on those that err,” he said.

    Director General of Ebonyi Broadccasting Corporation (EBBC), Timothy Nwachi, promised to with the partner the council to educate and sensitive the people on the maritime industry and the benefits therein for prospective practitioners, especially as regards the services of the council.

    Acting General Manager of NTA, John Ebanyi, said the council has a key role to play as its activities at the ports impact on the international trade of the country which impacts on the economy.

    He equally assured the coordinator that the station will partner with the council to sensitise the people of the state.

     

     

     

  • Dialogue is key, says NSC boss

    The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, has urged private terminal operators to embrace dialogue in resolving some  challenges at the ports.

    At a seminar organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos, Bello said the Council, as the economic regulator, would continue to protect operators and others at the ports.

    The theme of the event was: The gains and the pains of 10 years of port concession in Nigeria.

    Bello said the increase in cargo throughput, reduction in turnaround time of vessels and massive private sector investments were signs that the exercise was successful.

    He decried the attitude of some operators who violated concession agreements, urging that steps be taken to transform their terminals.

  • NSC seeks support for transit park

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged South-east governors to support the development of a Truck Transit Park (TTP) in their area.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Hassan Bello, made the call at the yearly lecture of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), titled: ‘The perspective’ in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    Speaking on the theme: Sustenance of Nigeria’s economic growth through port reforms: The case of Onitsha port, Bello, who was represented by the Director, Inland Trade Services, Mr. Akintunde Makinde, said TTP was vital to the maritime industry.

    This, according to him, will help to create employment, provide socio-economic services, and improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for state governments, while enhancing transit trade with land-locked neighbouring countries.

    Also, he said, the TTP, a state-of-the-art facility, should be situated off the busy highways to provide temporary place of rest where truck drivers would park their vehicles in a healthy environment, get accommodation, fuel, food, rest rooms and even service their vehicles.

    The NSC as the Economic Port Regulator, he said, is to consult, coordinate, moderate, and harmonise the various processes and procedures to achieve best practices.

    He stressed that the important place occupied by the Eastern Zone in Nigeria’s international trade cannot be over emphasised, hence, NSC would continue to view the zone as a viable partner in the shipping and international trade.

    He said port reforms, no doubt, are of benefit to the economy and that of the Southeast in particular, in view of the zone’s stake in the sector.

    “We shall remain open, independent, neutral and consultative while all our decisions will be based on the buy-in of stakeholders at all times. I want to place on record the fact that NSC views the actualisation of the Inland Dry Ports (IDP), Container Freight Station (CFS), Truck Transit Park (TTP), and the River Port projects as of paramount importance to the advancement of the economy of the Southeast Zone. Hence, we will not relent in all our efforts towards ensuring their realisation in the nearest future. To achieve these, our goals, we need your support to weather the storm in all our endeavours.”

    Meanwhile, Bello, told The Nation that an increase in the budgetary allocation to the council is inevitable, in view of the new role given to it about one and half years ago.

    “You may recall that this added function to Nigerian Shippers’ Council was given about one and a half years back.

    “With that, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council must seek more funding for it to enable it executes its mandate as an Economic Regulator.

    “But what is more important to us is to see that the maritime industry has become a revenue earner to Nigeria.

    “The sector has become another alternative for revenue for Nigeria and in that case, we encourage all the stakeholders to come together and initiate reforms in their respected jurisdictions so that the maritime industry would be strategically placed to provide employment to Nigerians, to provide revenue for Nigeria, to create wealth and also to encourage the provision of modern transport infrastructure,” he added.

  • ‘Agencies should collaborate’

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Hassan Bello, has urged maritime agencies to collaborate so as to move the sector forward.

    Speaking when he received the ‘Most Effective Agency in the Maritime Industry’ award from management of Global Business Edge Magazine in Lagos, he observed that for meaningful development to be achieved, all agencies in the sector must collaborate.

    “As agencies of government, we must work together. If this is done, a lot of good things will happen.”

    Bello urged institutions and individuals in the industry to use the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), so as to resolve some issues outside the Court.

    “Due to legal processes, NSC has not been able to perform some functions. We can settle some issues outside the Court of law as soon as possible so as to not only facilitate trade seamlessly, but also to move the sector forward. If this is done, changes will take place in the industry.”

    Bello also hinted that the Council is working towards professionali-sing the industry.

    “With the way the Minister for Transportation is going, in the next two years or less, human contact at the Nigerian ports would be totally eliminated so as to do away with corruption which is dwarfing the Sector.

    “The Council is developing truck transit parks that will streamline the country’s transport industry in line with international best practices. I call on freight forwarding bodies, truckers and critical stakeholders in the supply chain to come together and form consortium so as to achieve the best the sector can offer. I also call on all to embrace this change that is coming,” he said.

  • NSC office paid N300m to PDP chairman to fund election – EFCC

    NSC office paid N300m to PDP chairman to fund election – EFCC

    The EFCC told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the office of the National Security Adviser, paid N300 million to former National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru to fund election campaign.

    Mrs Roukayya Ibrahim, forensic expert with the Commission made the statement while testifying before Justice John Tsoho on Tuesday.

    Ibrahim said the outcome of forensic analysis on financial transactions in the Sterling Bank account used indicated that the money was not payment for contract executed.

    She said that the office of the National Security Adviser headed by retired Col. Sambo Dasuki authorised the payment.

    “The bank account that was used belonged to Abbah Bello, son of the third defendant (Haliru Bello),’’ Ibrahim said.

    She added: “between October and November 2014, a special Task Force was created to investigate Defence and arms contract.

    “Allegation of financial misappropriation in the office of the NSA has been reported at the commission.

    “After the Task Force was constituted, we studied intelligent reports and commenced investigation.

    “During the course of the investigation, we invited relevant government agencies and banks to discuss with them.

    “Specifically, we spoke with senior staff from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “One of the discoveries was a letter from the Ministry of Finance to the CBN requesting the release of N100 billion on March 2, 2015.

    “The money was actually meant for disbursement to agencies of government with the office of the NSA getting N30 billion out of the fund tagged to be used for security issues.

    “On March 3, 2015, the Accountant-General of the Federation sent a memo to the Ministry of Finance in respect of the N30 billion.

    “And on March 5, the Accountant-General of the Federation sent another memo to the CBN requesting urgent release of the N30 billion which was eventually paid into the NSA office account on March 11.

    “On March 17, the N300 million was transferred from the N30 billion into the Sterling Bank account operated by BAM Project and Properties Ltd owned by Abba Bello.

    “When Abba was arrested and interrogated, he denied knowledge of the transaction that ran through his bank account.

    “Then his father, Haliru Bello was away in abroad, but the story changed when we spoke with him on telephone.

    “During the course of the investigation, we got to know that Bashir Yuguda, former minister of State for Finance was used to actualise the transaction.’’

    “During forensic analysis, we discovered that on March 18, disbursement of about N137 million was made to Kumugumu Ltd, on the same day, another N178 million was sent to North pole Ltd from the N300 million’’.

    “On March 28, Abba transferred the sum of N163 million to Hijra Textiles Ltd on the instruction of his father, Haliru Bello.

    “Abba who is the sole owner of BAM Project and Properties Ltd whose bank account is been used withdrew the sum of N20 million in two tranches of N10 million each.

    “Then on May 28, Abba made another transfer of N50 million into another of his personal savings account.’’

    Ibrahim said Abba had specifically confessed to the commission that BAM Project and Properties Ltd did not execute any contract for the office of the National Security Adviser.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo are standing trial for alleged unlawful collection of part of the funds meant for arms purchase for the military.

    The judge adjourned the matter till Feb 23 for continuation.

  • NSC seeks media support to drive new port order

    NSC seeks media support to drive new port order

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on Wednesday urged the media to support its drive in instituting a new port order as the port economic regulator.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations Department of NSC, Mr Ignatius Nweke, made the plea in a message to the 2015 Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists held in Lagos.

    Nweke, who was represented by a Principal Public Relations Officer of the NSC, Ms Rebecca Adamu, said the council was convinced that with media support, the ports would be sanitised.

    He urged the media to partner with the Federal Government in moving the maritime industry forward.

    Nweke said maritime journalists should collaborate with the NSC as the economic regulator to drive the new port order.

    He said such regular seminar for journalists would create a platform where both journalists and stakeholders would be on the same page in championing the cause of the industry.

    Nweke also urged maritime journalists to write developmental stories that would be beneficial to operators the industry.

    “What is expected is that a reporter covering the maritime beat should devote his or her time in writing developmental and objective stories to the advantage of the sector, ‘’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar was organised by First Mediacom Network Ltd., publishers of Shipping Position Live and supported by the NSC.

     

  • NSC advised to enforce operating standards at ports

    NSC advised to enforce operating standards at ports

    The President, Shippers’ Association Lagos State, Mr. Jonathan Nicol, on Monday advised the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the port economic regulator to enforce operating standards by port operators.

    Nicol gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos while unfolding the association’s expectations for 2016.

    He said the rules of imports and exports must also be obeyed.

    “We believe 50 per cent of cargo lost to other African countries will find their way back to our ports.

    “All practitioners should have what it takes to perform their statutory duties. The more cargo we have in Nigeria, the better for all.

    “We have set the ball rolling for the acceleration of the new port order and government is geared toward revamping Nigerian ports,’’ the shipper told NAN.

    Nicol said all these would create wealth for the people, provide employment and assist in revenue generation by government.

    He suggested that all “unhealthy’’ import polices should be reviewed to boost cargo throughput (imports and exports) in 2016.

    Nicol said that a review of the auto policy would fetch more revenue for the government.

    According to him, all government agencies involved in maritime administration should reverse excessive charges like shipping costs and terminal charges.

    The shipper also noted that transportation (haulage) costs should be pegged at an acceptable level.

    “Port access road connecting Apapa to Tin-Can Island port from Mile 2 and Marine Beach end should be rebuilt to ease movement of goods and personnel.

    “Offloading of empty boxes (containers) should be accelerated by the shipping lines and exported out of the country regularly.

    “A new bridge across Olodi Apapa to Marine Road in Lagos should be a priority,’’ Nicol said.

     

  • NPA, NSC to begin 48-hour cargo clearance next year

    NPA, NSC to begin 48-hour cargo clearance next year

    To promote trade facilitation, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) may introduce the much-awaited 48-hour cargo clearance next year, it has been learnt.

    NPA Managing Director Mallam Habib Abdullahi and his NSC counterpart Mr Hassan Bello took this decision, following the directive of Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, who visited NPA Lagos office last week.

    “With the new directive from this government, NPA and the NSC officials are strategising on how to achieve the 48-hour cargo clearance early next year,” the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) a senior official, who did not want his named mentioned, said.

    The official identified sharp practices and charges for services not rendered as factors militating against the 48-hour clearance and urged the Ministers of Transport and Finance to address the problem.

    “We are aware that NPA and NSC are not happy over the past failure of 48-hour cargo clearance policy. Apart for the fact that the delays experienced in cargo clearance disrupted the production schedules of manufacturers as raw materials are not delivered in good time to their factories, they affected their revenue and were responsible for high level of corruption at the port as importers struggled to clear their cargoes under harsh conditions. This again exacerbate inflation as goods were not quickly cleared from the port to meet relevant needs in the economy.

    “In the past, the Federal Government had made several failed attempts to achieve 48-hour cargo clearance at the ports. Former President Goodluck Jonathan administration had at a time constituted a presidential committee under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Finance, with some co-opted members from the Ministry of Transport, to address the perennial problem of long cargo dwell time at the ports.

    “But what could rightly be termed as the achievement of the government intervention, unfortunately, was that it merely succeeded in getting a backlog of cargoes cleared to ease port congestion. After that, it became business as usual,” the official added.

    Meanwhile, over 6,000 shippers, it was gathered, have keyed into the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) introduced by NSC to secure the ports and environ. ICTN, it was learnt, would also assist the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in risk profiling, assessment and valuation to move cargoes out of the ports within 48 hours.

    Investigation has shown that as from January 1, next year, any vessel that fails to comply with the ICTN would be penalised.

    Contacted, Bello spoke of the need to streamline cargo clearance procedures and ensure that the ports compete with others in West and Central Africa.

    “Nigerian ports are in competition with other ports within the sub-region, so we have to streamline our clearance procedures–the way we do business – so that we can attract more cargoes to Nigerian ports,” he said.