*Customs, terminal operators listed as bottlenecks
*Nigerian Shippers’ Council workers rise against ‘blackmail’
In what seems like conditions to meet before they return to Nigeria for business, Niger Republic and Chad have listed inhibitions to transit trade in Nigeria, saying that if the Federal Government and the terminal operators fail to present competitive trade terms over their neighbouring countries’ competitors in November 21st meeting in Maradi, Niger they would bid the return move farewell.
Meanwhile, Workers of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) last week, unanimously, condemned “the malicious” publication in a section of the maritime media that alleged ‘irregular recruitment’ in the system, saying that they were in better position to discuss employment matters in the Council as members of senior staff and not “a faceless concerned staff’ who was on a mission for personal vendetta against an innocent colleague, arguing that the petition was misleading and smacks off ignorance on the part of the petitioner and ‘stupidity’ as well as unprofessionalism on the part of the publishers.
According to the Niger Representative of Niger Shippers’ Council, in Nigeria, Alh. Idi Hamissou, unless the terminal operators, shipping companies, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), other port agencies are willing to make competitive concessions, the Niger shippers have said they would not use Nigerian ports as transshipment port.
Both Niger and Chad are demanding 14 days as free days prior to demurrage charges for transit cargoes; Nigeria customs should accept insurance bond and not bank bond; Escort fee for transit cargoes should be calculated by the number of officers and not truck, among other conditions.
Citing an instance of Nigeria’s uncompetitiveness, Hamissou said that while Nigeria charges N25,000 for a customs escort, Cotonou collects N5,000 and Ghana collects N2,500 per truck.
“Before the port concession in 2006, Nigerian ports gave us almost 30 days free period before demurrage starts counting. Now, the terminal operators are giving us only 5 days free period. You can’t take your container from Lagos to Niger for five days. Before you even leave the port, demurrage will start counting. In Ghana, we have 31 days free period, and they did it to attract shippers but look at the distance, yet shippers route their goods through Ghana without fear.” Hamissou noted.
Asserting that “Our brothers from Chad are willing to come back to Nigeria because they have said that if Niger is back to using Nigerian ports they will join us”, he added that the return of both countries would boost Nigeria’s economy through employment creation and increased revenue generation.
The port of Cotonou handles not less than 3million tons of cargoes from Niger annually” If Nigeria can hijack 1.5 million or 2million tons annually, it is something. In Togo, we drop not less than 1.5 million to 2.million tons of general cargo. But the main problem of our people in Nigeria is un-stuffing. This is the aspect that irritates our people.” He stated.
According to him, the November meeting in Maradi will be a decisive one with all the stakeholders in attendance. It will make or mar the return bid of the landlocked countries to using Nigerian ports as transshipment point. The meeting was said to have held before but the Nigerian terminal operators were not present to present their terms of negotiation. “ The terminal operators and customs should help Nigeria and Niger to achieve this trade bilateral relationships for mutual benefits.” Hamissou noted. Niger will in November host the Union of African Shippers’ Conference.
The landlocked countries of Niger, Chad, among others pulled out of using Nigeria’s transit corridor for trade in 2006, following the difficulties they experienced in the wake of port concession, thereby ending a relationship that started in 1958. However, if they return they have concluded plans for active trade via Lagos ports, Calabar and Port Harcourt ports.
In a press chat, the President of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Comrade Muktar Adikwu said that “We are surprised that some faceless people came and claimed that they are concerned staff. We strongly believe that due processes are followed in the way things are done in this organization. As a union president I’m aware of that, and if we have any grievances at all, we will be the voice to speak.
“So for some faceless people or person to say that and is published in papers, it is saddening and embarrassing. I have taken time to investigate the issue of the person in question and discovered that all the things published are not true. From the records, we gathered that she (Miss Ezedinma) was duly interviewed like every other person was interviewed in a promotion interview. She was a graduate of English Language and this qualifies her to be in an officer cadre.
“So having found the truth, the workers are strongly behind the management. It is the handiwork of some disgruntled elements, trying to discredit the laudable achievements of the organization. This organization has enjoyed a peaceful industrial relations. And we will not allow any self-serving motive to create disharmony.” Comrade Adikwu stressed.
Meanwhile, MMS Plus findings against the allegation of favouritism for Miss Ezedinma and “irregular recruitment’ in the NSC show that the publication was done out of malice and a blackmail over a solicited favour not granted.
The external favour seeker found an ally in a group of “Concerned Staff” made up of mainly two perpetually angry and mischievous members of staff of NSC who authored the unsigned petition, which was latched on by the external “disgruntled” favour seeker.
Our source in the Council, said ‘If anybody has a complaint to make against the system, it is Miss Ezedinma because she was not promoted alongside her mates because there was no vacancy in her department- Administration. “So, when she was now promoted from GL 14 to 15, they had to backdate it so that she will not lose her seniority. And the promotions were done under a properly constituted board of the NSC, chaired by Dr Hassan Lawal and Chief Adebayo Sarumi as the Managing Director of NSC.
‘’Then, the promotion that took her and her mates from GL 15 to GL 16 in 31st May 2007, was the promotion of Mike Adara”, the source added.
