By Kenneth Jukpor
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has directed all shipping lines/ agents to publish the rotation number of vessels on their websites five days before the arrival of the vessel into Nigeria or as otherwise directed by the Council to the respective shipping lines.
According to Shippers’ Council, this order became necessary in compliance with theNational Action Plan 3.0 (NAP 3.0) which is in line with the Executive Order 1 on Transparency and Efficiency of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) under the Doing Business Reforms.
The directive would facilitate and accelerate pre-arrival clearance of cargo and improve performance of the cargo clearance process that will ultimately bring about improved business environment.
The Council informed the trading public that any matters or grievance regarding rotation number should be channeled via email:complaints@shipperscouncil.gov.ng
Reacting to this development, a maritime lawyer and Chief Executive Officer of Zoe Maritime Resources Limited, Mrs. Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore commended Shippers’ Council for the new initiative which she highlighted as part of the benefits of the legal power the Council has received.
“The shipping industry should be happy with the way Shippers Council is taking its responsibility. It’s the Council’s responsibility to see where there are lapses in the entire maritime space for efficiency and to protect the economic interest of all parties” she said.
