The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); Mr Hassan Bello has rated Nigerian ports as the most expensive ports in West Africa, even as he noted that inefficiency in the procedures and operations of agencies and service providers and even users is adversely affecting and undermining Nigeria’s competitive advantage in international trade.Bello who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Council gave this verdict last weekend in Lagos during a media interaction with senior editors of some news media.
Applauding the nation’s port reforms as a step in the right direction, the NSC boss acknowledged that in an effort to address the post-port concession issues, the Federal Government appointed the agency as the economic regulator.
Defining economic regulation as “an attempt by Government to monitor and correct any disorder in the working of a free market to address anti-competitive behaviours”, Bello nevertheless lamented that the gains of port reforms have not been sufficiently manifest, owing to the continuous non-competitiveness of the nation’s seaports.
He told the senior editors that as the economic regulator of port system, the NSC is more concerned about reduction in the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.
Specifically, he told the journalists that doing business in ports in Benin Republic and Ghana are far cheaper than those in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council carried out a comparative analysis of the Nigerian ports and ports of neighbouring countries.
According to him, whereas Terminal Handling Charge in respect of a 20-foot container is N62,682, it is N24,000 in Cotonou port, leaving a differential of N38,695.
Going further, he said, Terminal Handling Charge for 40’ Container in Nigerian port is N87,682, while it is N 48,000 in Cotonou port.
The NSC chief executive added that, whereas in Nigerian ports, free storage days is only three days, it is seven days in both Ghana and Benin Republic, while it is 11 days in Cameroun.
Opening up further on these charges, Bello added that: “At the Nigerian ports, shore handling charge is made up of: Terminal Handling Charge, Customs Examination Charge and Delivery Charge, while in other UEMOA countries like Benin Republic the charge is consolidated under a single nomenclature known as Acconage import”.
At the Nigerian ports, a total of ₦62,682 and ₦87,695 are charged for 20ft and 40ft containers respectively while in Cotonou port, the Naira equivalent of the charge is ₦24,000 and ₦48,000 for 20ft and 40ft respectively”.
He nevertheless agrees that, “port reform no doubt has brought in tremendous benefits to the national economy:, but insisted that, there is still the need to harness other potential areas of the port sector with a view to bring down the cost of doing business and enthrone efficiency”.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/shippers%E2%80%99-council-boss-says-nigerian-ports-most-expensive-west-africa
He told the senior editors that as the economic regulator of port system, the NSC is more concerned about reduction in the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.
Specifically, he told the journalists that doing business in ports in Benin Republic and Ghana are far cheaper than those in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council carried out a comparative analysis of the Nigerian ports and ports of neighbouring countries.
According to him, whereas Terminal Handling Charge in respect of a 20-foot container is N62,682, it is N24,000 in Cotonou port, leaving a differential of N38,695.
Going further, he said, Terminal Handling Charge for 40’ Container in Nigerian port is N87,682, while it is N 48,000 in Cotonou port.
The NSC chief executive added that, whereas in Nigerian ports, free storage days is only three days, it is seven days in both Ghana and Benin Republic, while it is 11 days in Cameroun.
Opening up further on these charges, Bello added that: “At the Nigerian ports, shore handling charge is made up of: Terminal Handling Charge, Customs Examination Charge and Delivery Charge, while in other UEMOA countries like Benin Republic the charge is consolidated under a single nomenclature known as Acconage import”.
At the Nigerian ports, a total of ₦62,682 and ₦87,695 are charged for 20ft and 40ft containers respectively while in Cotonou port, the Naira equivalent of the charge is ₦24,000 and ₦48,000 for 20ft and 40ft respectively”.
He nevertheless agrees that, “port reform no doubt has brought in tremendous benefits to the national economy:, but insisted that, there is still the need to harness other potential areas of the port sector with a view to bring down the cost of doing business and enthrone efficiency”.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/shippers%E2%80%99-council-boss-says-nigerian-ports-most-expensive-west-africa
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