As The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) officially commences its economic regulation role, it has said it would wield its hammer on any terminal operator who fails to comply with its regulatory instructions even as it promised that it would be transparent in carrying out the exercise. This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Council, Barr. Hassle Bello when it paid a working visit to ENL and Ports and Cargo terminals last week. Barr. Bello said the visit was to formally inform the terminals of its intention to register all the terminals by getting all the necessary information to be able to do that, urging them to cooperate with the Council by giving accurate information required of them. The Executive Secretary said the role of the Council is to measure the services of the terminals in order to curtail excesses in their operations. He said, “We are the eyes of the Federal Government as far as your operations are concerned; we have to measure your services here. It is important for any port operator to abide by the tariff structure, failure to do so will attract some sanction and Shippers’ Council will not hesitate to deal with any port operator who flouts the Nigerian law,” he added. He therefore enjoined them to report any problem they might encounter with any of the government agencies in the port to the Council in the process of carrying out their duties while charging them to make sure they consult with the Council before they effect any increment in their charges and that their charges must be in tandem with what is approved by the Council. He however stated that the Council would be transparent in the discharge of its economic regulatory role even as he called on the terminal operators to avoid cutting corners and to also eschew obnoxious services and to avoid keeping cargoes so that they can raise money through rent.
“You have to register with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, this registration will mean you have to give us certain information and this information is what we use to measure the efficiency of terminal operator.”
In his response, the General Manager of ENL terminal, Mr. Mark Walsh said the terminal would support the Council in anything it needs by providing the necessary information stating that it was a simple process for the terminal to comply with the regulation of the NSC.
“As the economic regulator now, it is a new position for you, as terminal operators, we need to cooperate with you to make it work for us and for all the community in the shipping service,” he said.
