Amby Uneze in Owerri – The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), South East zone has called on importers and exporters in Imo State to register with the Council in order to benefit from its numerous services.
Zonal Coordinator of the NSC, Christian Chimezie said in Owerri, capital of Imo State that the registration is free of charge, adding that NSC has a “Shippers Information Centre” (SIC) along Aba – Owerri Road, Aba, Abia State, for the benefit of importers and exporters in the South East zone.
Chimezie disclosed that NSC was, in February 2014, given additional responsibility by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the nation’s Port Economic Regulator (PER), which is meant to influence market behaviour of individuals and organisations in the private sector; monitor and correct any disorders in the workings of free markets.
To this end, he said the Council would provide a level playing field for all stakeholders in import, export, freight forwarding and ports sector; especially ensuing that, “tariffs (charged) in the ports were cost-reflective and fair to both service providers and users.”
The coordinator, who along with the South East zone management team paid a courtesy visit to the General Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) 12 Owerri, Dr. Leyie Nwiyodee, said the south east zone of the Shippers’ Council were at the station to solicit it’s “cooperation and collaboration in enlightening and educating the stakeholders in the port sector, as well as the general public, on the functions and activities of the NSC.”
He said: “NSC services are now made available for the benefit of Nigerians in shipping and trade related businesses. Therefore, importers, exporters, industrialists and manufacturers in Imo State and neighbouring states should no longer incur losses and exorbitant costs in their shipping business.
Responding, Nwiyodee assured the NSC of the station’s readiness to showcase the Council, especially with its new all-important status as the nation’s economic regulators’ support.
