Stakeholders urge FG to rehabilitate South-East roads to improve commerce

Shippers in the South-East region of Nigeria have urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency; rehabilitate all Federal roads in the South-East/South-South regions of the country, to improve economic activities in the areas.

They also decried the activities of Customs officials and other security agencies that harass clearing agents and importers on the highways, even after duty has been paid at the ports.

The shippers in a communiqué, issued after an enlightenment seminar titled, “Challenges of shipping trade: South-East Stakeholders Experience”, organized by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) South-East Zonal Coordinating Office, Aba, Abia State, however urged the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to remove Customs  from the highways, without which economic activities cannot go efficiently in the South-East region.

Considering the risk involved in transporting cargo from Lagos to the South-East region, they appealed to Government to make all Eastern ports operational, to reduce clearing and transportation costs.

They also urged the NSC to ensure that the proposed dry port at Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State, is realized soon.

While applauding the NSC for its various enlightenment programmes, which they said is improving shipping business in the region, they however urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make Forex available to manufacturers, to improve trade in the country.

The Stakeholders also solicited legislative action to compel parties to arbitrate disputes in Nigeria, notwithstanding the presence of foreign arbitration clauses, in an agreement where a Nigerian party is involved in a loss or damage, complained within Nigeria.

They also identified policy changes as inimical to the economic development of Nigeria and urged Government to ensure consistency in policy formation and implementation to ease the process of export and import transactions.

The stakeholders applauded the new role of the NSC, which they observed has increased operational efficiency, infrastructural development, security and safety of cargo and capacity building of players in the sector.