Barely a day after describing freight forwarding practice in Nigeria as bizarre, the Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Barrister Hassan Bello has advised the Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) to guide against admitting “charlatans masquerading as shippers” into the association.
He also advised shippers associations in other states to emulate SALS by coming together as a formidable group to work with the Nigeria Shippers’ Council in advocating for quality service delivery from service providers.
Bello, who bared his mind yesterday at the formal inauguration of the executives SALS in Lagos, said: “we are therefore very optimistic that the formation of shippers associations will among other things serve as an avenue to disseminate useful trade information on international trade transaction to members.
“Since the inception of the council in 1978, it has been playing a major role in protecting the interests of shippers by rendering tremendous assistance to shippers in negotiating for favourable freight rate.”
The NSC boss also said the council has been playing major roles in the domestication of international trade convention on carriage of goods such as the Hamburg Rules in order to create a favourable trade balance for the country.
President of SALS, Rev. Jonathan Nicole said the SALS executives will work with the NSC to reduce the challenges facing shippers in Nigeria.
“Shippers’ Association of Lagos State together with Nigeria Shippers Council will help to achieve this by conflict resolutions, reducing demurrages from shipping companies and dialogue with the Nigeria Customs Service to fast track clearance for the overall benefit of Nigeria.”
Nicole also promises to register shippers across Nigeria and have a list of credible shippers in the Nigeria Shippers’ Council’s register as it is done all over the world.
The other SALS executives are Isoha Azeez, general secretary; Chris Ikeme, first vice president; Tunde Faponle 2nd vice president; Amata Jonah, financial secretary; Mulika Sanni, Treasurer and Adebayo Adedoyin, Public Relations Officer.
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