Yusuf Babalola
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has approved, negotiated and reviewed haulage rates from Eastern ports to various destinations in the country.
The rates approved were in consideration of cost moderation and cargo transport issues. The negotiations were harmonious and the rates agreed upon were acceptable by all parties, including freight forwarders and truck owners.
Addressing the meeting in Lagos, the executive secretary and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, commended the stakeholders for their concerted effort towards negotiating an haulage rate from Eastern Ports to other destinations.
Barr. Akutah lauded the stakeholders for their commitment to move the country forward despite the challenges they are facing in their haulage business.
He assured the stakeholders that the federal government is committed to make their haulage business strive in the country.
Akutah used the occasion to call on the stakeholders to support the federal government’s aspiration to transform the maritime sector.
The NSC boss said the sector remains a gold mine for the nation’s economy with the current efforts of the government to ensure its development.
Among stakeholders present at the meeting were the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA); National Council of Managing Directors Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (ARFFN), Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) General Goods Transporters Association of Nigeria (GGTAN).
Recall that, as at the time of the 2022 review, the cost of AGO (Diesel) was N300 Litre, the USD $ 1 was exchanging rate was N400. After the 2022 exercise, the price of AGO/ Litre started soaring and it is currently hovering between N1, 500 and N1,700.
Consequently , truck owners started agitating for the review of the haulage rates
After a series of meetings with the stakeholders negotiating haulage rates, the issue eventually came to conclusion through the intervention by the Ports Economic Regulator.
The President of the General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria ( MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju lauded Barr. Akutah for his contribution to the development of the maritime sector since his assumption as the ES/CEO of Nigerian Shippers,’ Council. He expressed his readiness to solidly support the CEO in actualising his aspirations for the maritime sector.
