Nigerian Shippers’ Council unveils online portal for port users
By Business A.M.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has launched an online portal for the registration of all categories of regulated port users and operators, aimed at establishing and maintaining a comprehensive database of port stakeholders in the country.
According to the council, the registration provides the nation’s port economic regulator a database of service providers that are genuine as well as shippers and other stakeholders operating in the Nigerian port system.
Speaking at the launch,Emmanuel Jime, the executive secretary of NSC, described the event as a milestone that has upgraded the council from manual registration to a fully automated registration platform.
“The platform we are launching is interactive in nature as the physical interface is eliminated. From your desk in your office, you can register your company online without having to visit any Shippers’ Council office as long as you fulfill the requirements and make the necessary payments,” he said.
Jime also disclosed that the registration exercise is in various categories and attracts a token fee as the motive is not to generate revenue, but is mandatory for all service providers and users to register and obtain a certificate of registration before they can be adjudged as legally operating at the nation’s seaports.
The NSC executive secretary further assured that the new platform guaranteed a safe and secured business environment even as it eliminates the challenges of faceless stakeholders in the port system.
On his part, Cajetan Agu, the director of consumer affairs, NSC, observed that one of the responsibilities placed on NSC when it became the nation’s port economic regulator in 2014 was the obligation to register all port operators and port users.
Agu, who described the online registration as a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) function of the council, stressed that the era of faceless shippers, untraceable freight forwarders and other hidden service providers have ended.
The director also disclosed that the complaints unit of NSC which attends to stakeholders’ challenges in port business and arbitration services by the council will, henceforth, only be available to operators and port users registered with the Council.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike, the director general, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), encouraged the council to do more enlightenment campaigns on the initiative which she labeled a win for the nation’s maritime sector.
“Not everyone with regards to the industry stakeholders were represented at the event. It’s possible that more groups, companies and individuals were reached but only those present honoured the invitation. Nonetheless, we can’t exhaust the list of port users and operators,” she said.
On behalf of the Chamber of Shipping, Chimezie-Azubuike requested that some copies of the user guide be presented to the members at their meetings and other national or international platforms.