Shippers’ Council Re-sensitises Stakeholders on Online Registration 

Esther Oluku

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has organised a sensitisation exercise for stakeholders in the Maritime industry on its online registration portal. 

This sensitisation is the second in the series of the exercises organised by the council since the integration of technology into the registration process for port users.

The event themed: “Sensitisation of Stakeholders on Registration of Regulated Port Service Providers and Users,” was held at the NSC headquarters in Lagos.

The online registration portal is in line with the council’s drive to provide seamless on-boarding process for port users which is accessible from the comfort of their homes and offices and provides an option for paperless on-boarding for stakeholders.

According to the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, the collation of port stakeholders’ data is critical to the Council’s efficiency in performing it’s role as the port’s economic regulator.

Ukeyima, who was represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs Department, Mr. Cajetan Agu, urged stakeholders to comply with the initiative as it promises great dividends for port users.

He said: “This sensitisation is part of our know your customer strategy. We should know those people that are operating in the port. People have been coming here to complain to us to intervene on their behalf. We are no longer going to do that. If we are going to treat complaints from you as an operator in the sector, you must be registered by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.”

While many stakeholders at the event expressed concerns over the registration being a form of multiplicity of registrations within the port sector, National Coordinator, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Mr. Osita Chukwu, stated that registration with the Council is necessary.

“This registration gives you a membership so that the Council will be able to entertain any matter you have within or outside the port space. Let us not entertain this exercise as exploitation or revenue. This gazette has been out. My brothers, let us not discourage them. Let nobody discourage the freight forwarders from complying,” he stated.

Another Customs Licensed Agent, Mr. Ben Ndee, stated that while the work of the council is commendable, “the Council should have complain desk at every terminal so that agents and freight forwarders can have access and report their issues”