The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has assured the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NCS) that government would look into their challenges and effect necessary reforms needed for the success of the Blue Economy agenda of the current administration.
Oyetola gave the assurance during a working visit to the NSC Headquarters in Lagos.
The minister in a statement issued Sunday by the Director of Press, Henshaw Ogubike, also identified long bureaucratic processes are major factors responsible for elongated cargo clearance time, thereby frustrating shippers and leading to the jettisoning of their containers at ports.
He added that government would continue to provide conducive working environment for the NSC that would facilitate the disposal of overtime cargoes at all the ports in the country; pave way for effective and efficient service delivery.
The minister who expressed satisfaction with the contributions and level of achievements recorded by the management of the Council, however, decried the deplorable condition of the ports.
According to him, The rots and cracks in the ports infrastructure, overstaying of cargoes at the ports, excesses of foreign fishing firms is discouraging.
The minister stated that he would engage the leadership of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on the issue of abandoned cargoes at the ports in a bid to evacuate overtime cargoes and address other bottlenecks.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Emmanuel Jime, highlighted issues requiring urgent attention to include the amendment of NSC Act to institute effective port economic regulation.
he noted that the NSC is a laboratory where policy making that drives the marine space was being regulated, adding that its objective is to ensure that Nigeria is the Maritime Hub in the sub- Western Region.
The NSC boss disclosed that the actualisation of one percent freight stabilisation fee on import and export to Shippers Council as enshrined in the NSC Subsidiary Legislation; implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN); establishment of a National Fleet, among others are the current concerns of the council.
He, however, expressed confidence in the administration of the new minister adding that the minister has displayed passion towards creating impact in the maritime sector.