The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to enhance cargo evacuation from seaports to the hinterland and reduce business costs.
At the joint sensitization and MoU signing event in Lagos, NSC Executive Secretary Pius Akutah said the collaboration aims to address inefficiencies in cargo evacuation caused by the lack of a functional rail system. He noted that this has led to port congestion, delayed vessel off-loading, and increased demurrage costs.
Akutah emphasised the NSC’s role in liaising with government agencies to resolve inland transportation issues and monitoring intermodal coordination to improve efficiency.
NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria said the MoU signing will strengthen their responsibility to ease cargo movement through rail linkage. He acknowledged the challenge of unavailability of cargoes for rail freight and urged terminal operators to harness the issue.
Other speakers, including Apapa Local Government Chairman Adejumoke Idowu and Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Registrar Chinyere Uromta, emphasised the need for functional freight and passenger rail transportation, collaboration among stakeholders, and support for government agencies to achieve ease of doing business in Nigerian ports.
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