The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) said it has registered 160 port operators into its Regulated Port Service Provider and Users platform since its launch in 2023.
Executive Secretary of the NSC, Pius Akutah disclosed this during a sensitisation programme for port operators in Lagos on Monday.
According to Akutah, the registered port operators include agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies, individual port users and service providers.
Represented by the Director Consumer Affairs, Cajetan Agu, Akutah said the sensitisation programme, which was the second edition since its commencement in the last quarter of 2023 aimed to enlighten stakeholders on the online registration process for the platform.
“We invited the ports stakeholders to enlighten them on the processes for online registration of Regulated Port Service Provider and Users. We have demonstrated to them how to register and how to make payment and we were able to present before them the various categories of the registration.
“The rate of payment is also in the registration. The payment of each group depends on the operation. A shipper pays N30,000, terminal operators and shipping companies pay N300,000, truckers also pay N30,000 while some pay N50,000 as well as N100,000,” he said.
According to him, the council was able to intimate port operators on the benefits but said that there is need to continue to work with port operators to stop delays and also eliminate high costs to make the port efficient.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Stakeholders, Service, NSC, Mr. Celestine Akujobi, said the Council is working with stakeholders to ensure full participation before enforcement begins.
“By the time we introduce sanctions on defaulters, no operator will complain that he or she is not aware of the registration. I’m happy with the turnout of this sensitisation. This shows that the operators are well informed of the statutory function of the council as the port regulator.
“The final implementation will commence as soon as we discover that all the operators have keyed into the portal. We are engaging other ports across the country and we are hopeful that before the last quater of 2024, the council will implement sanctions on the defaulting operators,” Akujobi said.
The Vice Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwards (NAGAFF), Ifeanyi Emoh, urged the Council to look into regulating other government agencies to address indiscriminate charges.
Also, a member of the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Abayomi Duyile, commended NSC for the sensitization program, saying it will help in promoting a level playing field for government agencies and port users.
The Chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT), NEXUS Association of Maritime Truckers Operators (NAMTOP), Mr. Raheem Morufui hghlighted initial registration challenges but acknowledged the benefits of the program, citing a successful NSC intervention in a N20 million overcharge dispute.
“I’m now well informed after the training that everyone will register regardless of their operations so as to be attended to when there is a challenge. I want to commend NSC for their intervention. when the shipping companies overcharged me. I was able to get a refund of N20 million after the intervention,” he said.
