Shippers Council Reaffirms Commitment To Promote Trade Facilitation Within International Frontiers

Management of the Nigerian Shippers Council has reaffirmed commitment to promote trade facilitation within the international frontiers.

The Executive Secretary, Barrister Pius Akutah disclosed this on Monday in Lagos, during a meeting with delegates from the Ministry of Industry ,Trade and Investments and World Bank Nigeria Team.

Akutah who via online visuals assured the visits that the council is open for collaborations towards boosting seamless operations across the international frontiers adding that the trade facilitation is the hallmark of efficiency and effective movement of goods .

He said that the council is collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service to further promote border trade which according to him has also improved automation of port operations.

He said” The council is member of ECOWAS trade committee and other committees in a bid to promoting trade. The Nigerian Shippers Council has continued to promote border trade.

“The council is collaborating with USAID, Borderless Alliance , World Bank , Global Shippers Forum and many others in promoting development of ports and transport infrastructure and to further reduce bottlenecks at the ports.”

The Executive Secretary further explained that the council is in the forefront of port decongestion at the seaports lamenting in Lagos and Tin Can Island Ports respectively, noting that the national trade facilitation committee .

He further reassured the national trade facilitation committee that is council will synergize with various national and foreign institutions of ensure seamless operations at the international frontiers.

Earlier, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Udoka- Anite stated that
trade facilitation has been a focal point of discussions at national, regional, and international levels adding that the benefits of achieving harmonized, standardized, and simplified trading processes and procedures are immense and cannot be overstated.

Udoka- Anite who was represented by an Assistant Director from the Ministry, Dr. Brenda Max Nduaguibe averred that ” This is ever more important to small and medium scale enterprises where the NTFC helps create a more business-friendly environment for SMEs venturing into global markets, stressing that “This translates to increased competitiveness, growth potential, and a more level playing field .”

The Minister added that the objective of the visit to the port is to enable the World Bank team to fully understand the daily operations, inspection processes, trade bottlenecks to identify policy options to make trade seamless for the Nigerian government and to interact and engage with relevant government agencies present at the port to better understand their operations and day-to-day activities.

Assuring management of the Council of robust working relationship, she re-echoed
appreciation for members of the Enhanced National Trade Facilitation Committee for their dedication and tireless work in fostering an environment of collaboration and synergy across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Private Sector, and Civil Society, pointing out that “Your efforts pave the way for a more integrated and efficient trade facilitation framework.”

She noted that the existing collaboration have been instrumental in advancing national trade facilitation goals, strengthening the economy, and positioning Nigeria as a leading trade hub in the region.

According to the Minister, the alignment with the triple mandate of the Ministry has helped in the prosperity of industry, trade, and investment in the country.

In conclusion, the Minister prayed that the findings from this visit/ inspection will show that Nigeria through the eNTFC has been working tirelessly to ensure a harmonized, standardized, and simplified trading processes while assuring that the country is committed to achieving the goal and objective of the agreement.

Similarly, Economist from World Bank at Washington, Aleksandar Stojanov said the visit was targeted at improving inter states trade in Nigeria and to promote export .

Stojanov added that the world bank team is on a fact finding mission to promote trade facilitation in Nigeria.