Association seeks reduction of ship’s waiting time

LAGOS – Mr Jonathan Nicol, President of the Shippers’ Association Lagos State on Monday called for a reduction in waiting time of ships in Nigerian ports.
Nicol made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to him, clearance of cargo should be within 48 hours as directed by the Federal Government.
The shipper said that all port stakeholders should work toward that target (48 hours).
Nicol said that ships should be able to discharge their cargo within few hours and leave the ports immediately
He said that this would save the owner of a ship the huge costs he would have incurred if the ship had stayed longer.
“The shippers’ concept of the future of the maritime industry is for government to do everything to reduce the cost of business in Nigerian ports.
“To inspire investors to come to Nigeria and invest massively, the cost of doing business in many areas must be reduced.
“If you look at what the shippers bring to the country, if the cargo is managed well, if duty is paid, the industry can generate up to N3 trillion,’’ Nicol told NAN.
The shipper urged government to inject sanity into the port system.
He also suggested that roads leading to the ports should be reconstructed and properly managed.
Nicol, however, sought for collaboration between the various shippers’ associations in the country in order to have good presentations on issues.
He said shippers would work toward resuscitating state shippers’ associations and make them very active.
Nicol said shippers needed to unite, to form a “consolidated family’’ in order to speak with one voice and present their case without compromise.
The shipper said his association had lost confidence in freight forwarders presenting problems of the shippers.
“Shippers are losing confidence in behind the curtain negotiations.
“This is because we pay all the bills.
“The shippers will study all their problems and solve them.
“No more would the association allow the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to call on the freight forwarders to speak on behalf of the shippers,’’ Nicol told NAN. (NAN)