You are currently viewing PHCCIMA President Commends Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Calls for full Utilization of the Shipping Trade Group in their Sensitization programs

PHCCIMA President Commends Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Calls for full Utilization of the Shipping Trade Group in their Sensitization programs

The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, JP, FNIM, DSSRS has commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for its active performance in proper positioning and regulating the Shipping Sector in the Country. The Chamber President made his opinion known while participating in a One Day Seminar on “Understanding the Functions of Regulatory Agencies in the Port System” organized by Nigerian Shippers’ Council, South-South Coordinating Zone on Wednesday 17th July, 2024 at Bourgavillea Hotel, GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt. The Chamber President who was represented by the Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda appealed to the new South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Shippers Council, Mr. J. O. Okoliko to utilize his position as the current Chairman of the Shipping, Logistics and Transport Trade Group of the Chamber to continuously sensitize Ports Operators and Stakeholders on activities of the Regulatory Agencies and other information on the updated Port System as the Chamber presents a veritable platform for such interactions positing that the Trade Group has been at the forefront in the development of the Shipping Sector in the South-South region. In his welcome remarks, the President General of the National Shippers Association of Nigeria, who also is the Chairman of the Professional Services and General Consultancy Trade Group of the Chamber, Engr. Dr. Innocent Akuvue praised the Nigerian Shippers’ for their prompt responses to complaints of Operators and Stakeholders in the zone and pledged his organization’s support in ensuring success of their activities and promoting efficient Port System in the South-South region. Highlights of the event were paper presentations by the Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Key Port Agencies; NPA, Nigeria Customs Service, NIMASA, NDLEA, NAFDAC, NIWA and Immigration Service, and production of the attached Seminar Communique.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE ONE DAY SEMINAR ON “UNDERSTANDING THE FUNCTIONS OF REGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE PORT SYSTEM” ORGANISED BY NIGERIAN SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL, SOUTH-SOUTH COORDINATING ZONE ON WEDNESDAY, 17TH JULY, 2024 AT BOURGAVILLEA HOTEL, ABACHA ROAD, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE

The Seminar attended by over 100 participants had the President of National Shippers Association, Mr.  Innocent Akuvwe as the Chairman.  The representatives of NDLEA, NPA, NIMASA, Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC, NIWA, Immigration Service and several stakeholders of the maritime industry were in attendance.

After an extensive deliberation on the papers presented, the following communique was adopted for the education of the stakeholders in the maritime industry.

  1.     The stakeholders commended the organizers, Nigerian Shippers’ Council for the seminar.
  2. That because of the strategic position of the maritime industry to the national economy, efficiency and transparency should be the hallmark of shipping transactions in all our ports.
  3. That the functions and responsibilities of regulatory agencies in the port system be well published for ease of operations.
  4. The participants called on the regulatory agencies in our ports to develop a synergy that will ensure that the ease of doing business in our ports is achieved by the Federal Government.
  5. Economic benefits currently enjoyed in our ports should be sustained by all stakeholders by complying with the various rules and regulations put in place by the Federal Government through the various regulatory agencies at the port.  Discipline should be the watch word in our engagements in the ports.
  6. The Freight rates differentials in the Eastern ports should be addressed in order to record more shipments in this part of the country.
  7. The national shippers association executives, representing port service users, should be carried along in some of the policy implementation in our ports.
  8. The participants urged the Federal Government to do all they can to bring to fruition, the provisions of the Cabotage Act, so that the nation could have greater economic benefits from the blue and marine economy.
  9. The participants urged the Federal Government to dredge the channels and draught of the berths at the Eastern ports, so that very large vessels could call at these ports.

phccima chambers
Author: phccima chambers