Shippers’ Council urges stakeholders to support NPA’s e-call-up system
. Bello says saboteurs would be exposed, shamed
. ETO will halt artificial price increase, reduce the cargo dwell time in Nigerian ports.
By Eniola Idris
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr, Hassan Bello has enjoined all stakeholders in the maritime sector to cooperate with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ensure that the electronic call-up system is successful.
Bello, who spoke exclusively to SlyeNews said that the saboteurs of the modern traffic management system would be exposed and shamed.
He said: “The Nigerian port authority should be given enough time to operate the e-call up system. It may not be perfect at the beginning, but we call on all stakeholders to work with NPA and make sure that the scheme is successful.
“The gridlock has distorted a lot of things including tariff in Nigerian shipping industry, so NPA’s effort to introduce a modern traffic management system by way of electronic call-up system is most commendable,” he said.
Calling stakeholders to work with NPA so as to get rid of the shameful traffic gridlock in Apapa an other ports, the Shippers’ Council boss said the electronic call up system has come to stay.
Bello said: “We are not unaware of the fact that there are some elements who are working against the system because they wanted the status-quo to be maintained for their own selfish interest. Those people thrive on chaos and confusion. They have vested interest. They have opposed many reforms initiated in the industry. They will be exposed and shamed.
He said that the electronic call up system would remove the distortions at ports because the clearance, delivery and tariff of cargo are currently facing distortions because of the traffic gridlock.
Bello added that the modern traffic management system would halt the artificial price increase, port congestion and reduce the cargo dwell time in Nigerian ports.
“Original average cargo dwell time is seven days but the gridlock has elongated it in Nigeria, The gridlock also caused congestion at the berth (that is turn-around time for ships are not positive). It has caused lots of demurrages and the shippers are groaning.
“All these are initiated by the gridlock, which is caused by some vested interests. Now that NPA is trying to clear the gridlock, there is pushback by these vested interests and we are not going to allow this to happen,” he said.
