Nigerian Shipper’s Council Reject Tariff Hike
The Executive Secretary of Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello has said that the Council will not renege on its position in rejecting further hike in tariffs that would make the Nigerian ports uncompetitive.
Bello stated this when he hosted the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the president on maritime matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, and the Chairman of the port consultative Council, Otunba Tunde Folarin, in Lagos.
According to Bello, the port hasn’t been competitive because of the high tariffs: “our ports are still not friendly, there have also been attempts to increase tariffs in the port but Nigerian Shippers Council refused to accept it. We have been working so hard on standardisation and there must be consolidation on the Freight forwarding issues.”
He added that “Nigeria is the costliest in terms of cost of doing business which was why people and investors take their businesses to other countries, Nigerian Shippers Council is planning to make the Nigerian Port a place where people’s services could be met hitch free.”
In his remarks, Oyewole commended the Council for efficient regulation of the ports, noting that the government will continue to ensure that the maritime sector played a key role in the industrialization of the economy.
Speaking on the new automotive policy, Oyewoledisclosd that production of cars has already started in Nigeria, from automakers like Nissan and Toyota. He also added that they were awaiting the approval of the president so as to further implement the policy.
He stressed that the automotive policy was a government initiative to make sure manufactures have their plants in Nigeria and also to create employment.
