Shippers Council Reaffirms FG ‘s Commitment To Ensure Thriving Haulage Business In Port Operations
By Roland Ekama
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reassured stakeholders that the Federal Government is committed to ensure haulage business strive in the nation’s seaports.
The council has equally approved negotiated and reviewed haulage rates from Eastern ports to various destinations in the country.
The rates approved were in consideration of cost moderation and cargo transport issues.
The negotiations were harmonious and the rates agreed upon were acceptable by all parties, including freight forwarders and truck owners.
Addressing the meeting in Lagos, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr.Akutah Pius, commended the stakeholders for their conceited effort towards negotiating an haulage rates from Eastern Ports to other destinations.
Barr. Akutah lauded the stakeholders for their commitment to move the country forward despite the challenges they are facing in their haulage business.
Akutah used to occasion to call on the stakeholders to support the Federal Government’s aspiration to transform the maritime sector.
The NSC CEO said the sector remains a gold mine for the nation’s economy with the current efforts of the government to ensure its development.
Among stakeholders present at the meeting were the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent, National Council of Managing Directors Customs Agents, Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria, Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, Maritime Workers Union, General Goods Transporters Association of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that as at the time of the 2022 review, the cost of AGO ( Diesel oil) was N300 Litre, the USD $ 1 was exchanging rate to N400. After, the 2022 exercise, the price of AGO/ Litre started soaring and it is currently hovering between N1, 500 and N1,700.
Consequently truck owners started agitating for the review of the haulage rates
After a series of meetings with the stakeholders negotiating haulage rates, the issue eventually came to conclusion through the intervention by the Ports Economic Regulator.
The President of the General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria ( MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju lauded Barr. Akutah for his contribution to the development of maritime sector since his assumption as the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shoppers,’ Council.
He expressed his readiness to solidly support the CEO in actualizing his aspirations for the maritime sector.
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