Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Chairman of the House Committee on Shipping Services, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, and the House Committee on Shipping Services to protect the interests of shippers and industry stakeholders.
He made the affirmation when he led committee members and representatives from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council on an oversight visit to APM Terminals in Lagos.
He explained that the visit is part of the Committee’s mandate to assess the terminal’s adherence to operational standards, to gain insight into the current state of the shipping industry, and to gather first-hand information on what needs to be done to protect shippers.
Abdussamad Dasuki said: “We are here to listen to your concerns regarding the sector and to understand the benefits the country can derive from our efforts. This Committee aims to explore ways to make life easier for the shipping services and for the nation as a whole.”
Addressing the Shipping Line Association, the Committee Chairman assured the association of continued support to enhance their service delivery efficiency.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Akutah, who joined the oversight team at the APM Terminal, reiterated the Council’s mission to enforce compliance with operational standards by concessionaires.
He also emphasised that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the Port Economic Regulator of ports, responsible for ensuring the adherence of port terminal operators to established standards.
In response to concerns raised by the terminal operator about multiple checkpoints leading to increased road congestion, he mentioned that the Council would work with the relevant agencies to provide solutions that would not compromise the efficiency of the system.
Regarding the Terminal Operator’s request to review tariffs, he maintained that the government is focused on stimulating the economy and that any additional costs would further burden it.
“We don’t want anything that would lead to extra costs for the economy at this time, so we have been urging them to remain patient. We understand the economic indicators, and any tariff increase would be counterproductive,” he added.
Similarly, Barr. Akutah, while meeting with the Managing Directors of Mediterranean Shipping Company and the Committee, described the association as highly professional. He highlighted their collaborative discussions aimed at improving conditions for workers in the sector.
According to him, the Shipping Line Association consists of individuals who play a crucial role in the sector’s success.
Akutah noted that there could not be any maritime service in the country without the active participation of this subsector of the economy as they are the main drivers of the maritime industry.
He commended the NSC for addressing the challenges currently facing the country in order to expedite processes and uphold the economic value of the industry.
The NSC praised the House Committee for their oversight responsibilities as they engaged with the Shipping Line Association to gather feedback from members both individually and collectively.
