Importers solicit full regulatory powers for shippers’ council

Shippers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have appealed to the Federal Government to give the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) full powers to become the regulatory agency that will fight against fraud in international trade.

They also urged the Federal Government to fully implement the single window clearing system in order to reduce the bottlenecks currently experienced by local shippers in the processing of documents.

They argued that trade procedures in Nigeria have been an issue of major concern for both government and the private sector for several years due to inefficiency and urged the Federal Government to improve infrastructure and domesticate international bilateral agreements that are of benefit to the country.

According to them, various studies revealed that the country’s ports are characterised by perennial congestion, long delay in cargo clearance, low turnaround of vessel, low integrity of some shippers and regulatory agencies, multiplicity of security and regulatory agencies, high port charges, among other issues.

The inefficient trade transaction processes in the country have led to relatively high cost of doing business in the country, which has in turn resulted to poor ranking of Nigeria in the World Doing Business Report.

These were contained in a 10-point communiqué issued after an enlightenment programme organised by the NSC, Southeast zonal coordinating office, Aba, to sensitise stakeholders on fraud-related issues in international trade.

Anthony Mgbarine, a resource person at the forum, in his paper titled “An overview of maritime and commercial frauds in international trade” observed that fraud is a global phenomenon that is not unique to the maritime and shipping industry.

He explained that the level and quantum of maritime and commercial fraud and the ability of the people behind them are usually played down because of lack of national statistics to measure the effects and the inability of interest groups in commerce, shipping, banking, insurance and law enforcement agencies to meet and discuss ways to abate these evils.

“We urge the Federal Government to take necessary measures to combat maritime and commercial frauds by creating a regulatory agency in the industry,” he added.

By: GODFREY OFURUM