Connect with us
BY EGUONO ODJEGBA In public affairs, symbolism is often as important as substance. Institutions do not merely communicate through speeches; they also communicate through the company...
BY GGBOGBOWA GBOWA The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has been basking in the glow of its recent announcement: ₦90.6 billion in economic losses prevented over the past three years. Executive Secretary Dr. Pius Akutah credits the Council’s interventions in demurrage disputes, tariff harmonization, and alternative dispute resolution for the savings, a figure that underscores the Council’s growing role as Nigeria’s port economic regulator. From settling conflicts with global shipping giants like Maersk and CMA CGM, to harmonizing bonded terminal charges and facilitating collective bargaining agreements for maritime workers, the Council has positioned itself as a bulwark against exploitative practices. For shippers, the ₦90.6 billion claim is more than a statistic; it is proof that regulatory oversight can translate into tangible economic relief. This economic gain no doubt stands Dr Pius Akutah tall as a performing CEO, one that understands his primary role in the national and political economy. The announcement is also necessary to give Nigerians the benefit of a full understanding of the how the Akutah led NSC management has performed since he came onboard, his grasp of the dynamics of governance in the delivery of cost-efficient services. Yet, beyond the headline numbers, stakeholders point to a stubborn reality: the Council’s inability to prevent arbitrary increments in truckers’ fees at the ports. Importers and exporters complain that while demurrage charges have been checked, haulage costs continue to spiral. But in truth these troubling charges are driven by fuel hikes, poor access roads, and the dominance of trucking unions. For many, this gap reveals the limits of the Council’s mandate. While empowered to regulate shipping lines and terminal operators, the NSC has little direct control over road haulage pricing. Without any equivocation, the result is a paradox of sort: billions saved on one front, and billions lost on another. Industry watchers argue that reconciling these contradictions requires more than dispute resolution. Expanded legislative authority under the pending Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, coupled with infrastructure investment to ease port congestion, could give the Council the leverage it needs to rein in trucking costs. Until then, the NSC’s ₦90.6 billion claim stands as both a triumph and a reminder that regulation can deliver savings, but without holistic oversight, the cost of moving goods through Nigeria’s ports will remain a contested terrain. Is it possible however to address this lacuna through policy initiative with conscientious, bold and focused implementation drive, free of divided intents and attention? The answer is yes, but lies squarely on the court of the presidential economic team, the presidential enabling business environment council, the federal ministry of marine and blue economy, and its relevant agencies.
…As Stakeholder Fault Claimants, Task NSC Board, Mgmt To Beware BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS The proposed plan by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to build a Secretariat...
The Nigerian ports system has long been plagued by disorder, weak institutional oversight, entrenched corruption, and the unchecked influence of non-state actors. Into these vacuum...
The clash recently between Grimaldi Agency Nigeria and trade consultant Mr. Okey Ibeke is more than a dispute over container sales, it is a wake-up call...
BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has weighed in on the ongoing corporate spat between the Principal Consultant, International Trade Advisory Services,...
BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS In a decisive stride toward economic diversification, the SEREC Media Intelligence Policy Network (SMIPN) has unveiled a strategic sensitization initiative aimed at advancing...
The Anchor of Reform BY IBRAHIM NASIRU “Non progredi est regredi” (To not go forward is to go backward.) In the global maritime industry, standing still...
BY EGUONO ODJEGBA The Nigerian maritime sector, long plagued by disputes over tariffs, regulatory authority, and systemic inefficiencies, witnessed another tense but pivotal moment on Friday....
…As Group Submits Position Paper To Shippers’ Council BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), in technical partnership with the Sea Empowerment &...
