Shippers Council bars agents’ associations from collecting fees at seaports

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Shippers' Council, Hassan Bello
PHOTO CREDIT: SHIPS & PORTS

 

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) said it has banned the collection of dues by all associations of freight forwarders and licensed Customs agents at the ports.

Its Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, who said this at a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders at Eastern Ports, Port Harcourt yesterday said the proper place for such revenue drive is the secretariat of the associations.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, Cajetan Agu, Bello said the decision is sequel to stakeholders’ outcry at the ports against the practice.

He also said that getting approved standard tariff for freight forwarders remains a high priority for the agency.

Bello also said all the issues raised by the stakeholders at the meeting would be dutifully followed up with the Ministry of Transportation, expressing hope that the new Minister of Transportation would address them accordingly.

He specifically promised to take up the issue of several checkpoints along Port Harcourt –Aba and Owerri –Onitsha highways as well as the dormant nature of eastern ports with the Federal Government.



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