The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) registration policy is getting more buy-ins in the maritime sector as groups like The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said it would review the earlier stance of the association against the policy. The national vice president of ANLCA, Kayode Farinto, had vowed to challenge the registration fee recently introduced by the Council for port service providers, describing it as an illegal collection.
He said while the NSC can register stakeholders to have their database, it does not have the powers to impose registration fee. But, speaking to LEADERSHIP, national president of ANLCA,Tony Nwabunike, said the association would support the registration policy of the council. According to him, the association would have a change of mind as the Shippers’ Council has the power to register stakeholders in the sector. He said, “My vice president, when I was away mentioned that we won’t support it but I will review it because if you go by the gazette that concerns the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, they have the right to do that, but we will review that. There may be a change of mind,” he stated.
Also, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has thrown its weight behind the registration policy saying it is a move geared towards boosting port efficiency. NAGAFF president, Increase Uche, said that the NSC registration was similar to others carried out by government agencies in the port including the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Customs and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to profile their stakeholders. He said, “The Shippers’ Council registration is not new in the industry because when you look at the entire agencies of government from NIMASA to NPA and customs, virtually all the regulatory agencies profile the players that interface with them. So since they made Shippers Council interim regulator of the port, I think it is also good that they embark on similar exercise of registering stakeholders. “Personally, I belong to several professional bodies and we pay annual dues every year. So for you to belong to such a group or anybody that regulates you, you have the obligation of identifying and keeping up to date with the requirement for them to carry out their regulatory role,” he said. Uche, who commended the NSC for slashing the registration fee by 50 per cent, said those kicking against the registration did not have an understanding of the law setting up the council and its role in ensuring that the interests of shippers were always protected.
Pix: Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council
