Shippers’ Council, Customs partner on dry ports

In a bid to avoid mistakes recorded in the nation’s seaports from rearing their heads at the dry ports, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, has called on the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS,) to partner the Council for a successful take-off of the Inland Dry Ports (IDP) project in the country.

Bello made the call during the inauguration of a 9-Man Technical Committee on the IDP projects at the NSC’s head office in Lagos.

He said the Technical Committee was set up to ensure collaboration between the Council and NCS for the successful take-off of the IDP projects in the country.

The NSC CEO said it was better to get it right from the beginning so that mistakes recorded in the nation’s seaports in the past would not be repeated at the dry ports again.

Bello said the Council has been part of the dry ports concept since 2006, adding that the participation of Customs in this Technical Committee cannot be overemphasized.

Bello, who was full of praises for the past and present Comptroller Generals of Customs for their tremendous support and encouragement in the IDP projects, and assured the Agency of the Council’s resolve to work towards trade facilitation.

He said that the Kaduna Inland Dry Port would soon commence full operations; and was hoping to obtain approval and recognition from the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and solicited for the co-operation of Customs Service for a joint review of the initial draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier developed by both organizations for the smooth operations of the IDP.

In his remarks, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Rtd. Col Hammed Ali, who was represented by the Apapa Area Controller, Mr. Musa Jubrin, thanked the Management of the Council for initiating the IDP concept.

Ali said the dry port project will go a long way in contributing to economic diversification and pledged the support of the Agency towards the actualization of the projects.

The Customs boss also stated that the concept was in line with global best practices of attracting investors by making port operations businesses attractive, competitive and easy.

The Committee is made of Mr. A. N. Makinde, Director Inland Transport Services as the Chairman, Mrs. A. Dublin-Green, Deputy Director Law & Policy, Mr. O. Oyebola, Deputy Director Bilaterial & Multilateral Trade Services, Mr. T.O. Jaiyeola, Deputy Director Monitoring & Intermodal Coordination, Mr. A. G. Saidu, Comptroller of Customs, Mr. H. J. Swomen, Deputy Comptroller, Mr. A. U. Ebieme, Assistant Comptroller, Mr. M. A. Kwairanga, Superintendent of Customs as Members.