NSC to sanction shipping companies, terminal operators, others over non-registration

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has given regulated service providers one month to register with the council or face deregistration. Amongst the affected regulated service providers include ports authority, seaport terminal operators, shipping companies, off-dock terminal/bonded warehouses, cargo consolidators, logistics service providers, freight forwarders, inland container depot operators, stevedoring companies and others.

The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello who disclosed this in Lagos during a sensitisation clinic programme for regulated service providers, noted that the second phase of the sensitisation programme for shipping companies, terminal operators and inland container dry ports will soon commence.

Bello who was represented by Mr. Cajetan Agu, Director, Consumer Affairs Department of the NSC, said some of the sanctions were first and second warnings, delisting, sealing off of business premises amongst others.

Bello said since the first sensitisation clinic that took place on Jan. 31, 2019, only few regulated service providers had registered.

The Council boss listed the stakeholders affected by the directive as: ports authority, seaport terminal operators, shipping companies, offdock terminal/bonded warehouses.

He said others were cargo consolidators, logistics service providers, freight forwarders, inland container depot operators, stevedoring companies and others.

According to Bello, the registration is in line with part 2, section 41 of the NSC Port Economic Regulation of 2015.

“The purpose of this clinic is to provide guidelines, rates and modalities for registration online with the NSC portal.

“At the first sensitisation programme in 2019, participants raised issue of high registration fee, stating that it adds to cost of doing business and this was reviewed downwards, but surprisingly some regulated service providers did not comply.

“It is hoped that stakeholders will avail themselves this opportunity and participate in the sensitisation clinic and equally register with the NSC thereafter for those who are yet to register with us.

“Stakeholders should not take our persuasion as a form of weakness, they should utilise the one month grace period and register or sanctions will be meted out,” the NSC Boss stated.

He added that some benefits attached to the registration included regulatory incentives, creating a pool of operators in the port sector, economic planning, ability to monitor the conduct of providers, free access to complaint mechanism and platform for consultation.

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