Shippers’ council charts path to sector’s success

The Director, Inland Transport Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Akintunde Makinde, has expressed commitment towards the facilitation of robust trading system by removing barriers that can hinder local and international trade.

Makinde, who spoke at a day enlightenment seminar organized for over 100 stakeholders in Akure at the weekend, reiterated the need for equipping traders with the basic knowledge of functions of trade facilitation agencies, shipping companies and terminal operators in the country’s maritime Industry.

“It will also enlighten stakeholders on the aspect of shipping business, effective complaint management system, Port Service Support Port (PSSP) in port economy regulatory regime of Nigerian Shippers’ Council.”

Stakeholders at the seminar included the Nigerian Custom Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Farmers Congress, NSCDC, Ondo State Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others.

The CEO, who was represented by the South West Coordinator of the council, Olurotimi Anifowose, lauded Ondo State government for its efforts on the proposed Deep Sea Port establishment and canvasses more support for the development of Truck Transit Park.

A resource person and Managing Director, Agro Traders Limited, Kunle Ayoade said: “The profitability or otherwise of any business, therefore, depends largely on the various costs associated with the business as well as the set an acceptable market.price which must not only be acceptable to the market.”

Ayoade added that the set price must also bring appreciable returns to the exporter or the importer, urging them to adopt a pricing strategy that can sustain their market share and create new ones.

While the Assistant Director and Head of Complaints, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Fadipe Moses, delivered a paper on “Effective Complaints Management System: PSSP in Port Economic Regulatory Regime.”

The State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Timilehin Adelegbe and the Special Adviser to Ondo governor on Transport, Tobi Ogunleye, pledged their supports.

They noted that the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu through the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) and the Deep Sea Port would facilitate local and international trade.

The stakeholders issued a communique urging the Federal Government, state and stakeholders to utilize the maritime potentials in Ondo State by speedily establishing the sea port to facilitate local and international trade.