Maritime First, 26 February 2021
…As Hassan Bello says Complaints of International Shipping community can’t be ignored again!
In furtherance of the laudable goals of the Nigerian Ports Process Manual, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health and the Department of State Security Service (DSS) recently agreed on collaboration and joint inspection of vessels, calling on Nigeria.
The initiative, according to sources, was at the insistence of the Nigerian Shippers Council, which insisted that the complaints by the international community, against separate boarding and inspection and their attendant delays and cost, could no longer be ignored.
Presiding over a meeting of the agencies, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, noted that joint boarding of vessels was the acceptable international best practice around the world.
According to him, the European Union and the entire global shipping community have complained incessantly on the delays at Nigerian ports which also lead to economic consequences on the nation.
“Shipping is time-bound and we face serious competition from other ports in the region. Why should Nigeria have 22 days ship turnaround time when our neighbors achieve it in 7 days?
“I am happy with the collaboration and commitment of all the government agencies.
