Shippers Council fast-tracks “Stakeholders Service Division “

By Uzor Odigbo

Determined to address issues bothering on trade facilitation in line with the ease of doing business , the Nigerian Shippers Council has introduced a new unit called “Stakeholders Service Division” which is headed by an executive director.

The newly established unit  is categorised under the Consumers Affairs Department of the council.

Sources disclosed to TheNiche that the economic port regulator established the unit to ensure that the interest of the stakeholders are protected.

According to them “Users and providers of service are said to benefit from the new division and it will also ensure that stakeholders are adequately enlightened and educated on matters regarding to trade and transport as a way to better the lots of their businesses.”

They  stated that the unit has been  mandated to  enlighten, inform, organise awareness programmes ; clinic, seminars ,national discourse and road shows.

The  impeccable sources  said management of the NSC had observed  that stakeholders complained  about issues bothering on trade facilitation but do not know the right department to report such, hence the new division is  poised to address challenges facing the operators.

Aside issues bothering on trade and transport, they  called on stakeholders to come up with ideas that can further  encourage and promote  trade facilitation in the nation’s transport and logistics chain management.

Asked about who are the key stakeholders that would benefit from the new division, they  noted that “We are talking about stakeholders from the port sector but in this regard, management is looking at the industry as a whole.”

“We are going to be looking at the industry as a whole and all the relevant stakeholders who partake in transport will be involved.”

Speaking on the benefits of the new unit, they explained that the new  division would serve as a tool for effective communication between officials of the unit and industry  operators adding that there will regular meetings with them.

“There shall be formal and informal meetings with the operators, which will largely depend on the stakeholders .

“Some of such meetings would include breakfast meetings and we might also institute general monthly meetings, quarterly, and even set up a forum whereby we will tag it seaport stakeholders forum where we will ensure that all operators via the seaport would be in attendance.”