By citybusinessnews@yahoo.com —
In-line with its mandate as Port Economic Regulator and Trade Facilitator, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has taken steps to ensure uninterrupted flow of cargoes.
Already, the Council has visited some terminals and had very useful discussions with their operators. These discussions have led to the Council intervening on behalf of freight forwarders with banks to extend their services to port operators in order to allow them pay fees to various agencies to facilitate clearance of cargoes from ports.
Briefing stakeholders in Lagos, Executive Secretary, NSC, Hassan Bello said: “We cannot afford to have our terminals clogged up with more uncleared cargoes.
“As you know, even in the hardest hit countries, port operations have continued without let or hindrance. In an interdependent world, goods continue to move around and the manufacturing of goods cannot be halted otherwise economies would be in bigger trouble than they are set to be as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many essential commodities, particularly drugs, medical equipment and consumables need to be imported by many countries including Nigeria.
“We are happy to note that a number of banks have been cooperating as their branches in Apapa to ease transactions fo freight forwarders.
“It gives me great pleasure to report that all stakeholders have been very cooperative in a bid to ensure that activities in the Maritime sector suffer minimum disruption.
“We all recognize that we are in this together and we hope to emerge stronger at the end of this pandemic.
“Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been engaging the Port Health Services as well, as it works very hard to ensure that port users, and indeed the generality of Nigerians are protected from the virus as essential goods make their way into the country”.
He explained that Nigerian Shippers’ Council has made some modest contribution in cash and protective materials towards the fight against COVID-19.
He also used the opportunity to commend the President for proactively putting in place a lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States so as to stop the spread of the Corona Virus amongst the teeming populations of the Federal Capital Territory and these two states of the federation.
“I cannot conclude this address without acknowledging the hardwork, commitment and cooperation of the following:
The Vice President’s team on Post COVID-19 economy, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s Task Force on COVID-19,
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and his COVID-19 team,the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Odumosu
Port Health Services,NIMASA, NPA,CRFFN, among others.
He also commended the brave medical workers, security forces, researchers working all hours to find a vaccine and of course “all of you present here today”.
