Mr Hassan Bello, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) on Friday said that African maritime stakeholders would meet to review the port concession agreement.

Bello, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said the NSC was putting in place a comprehensive tariff regime to make the port more attractive.

According to him, the Union of African Shippers Council conference scheduled to hold on Sept. 25 to bring the terminal operators together to decide on the details of the review process.

“It is a Union of African Shippers Council which we are hosting to review what we would like to see.

“Port concessioning is a very good concept but we have to exercise abundant caution to see that it is done well.

“It is not only the government that is looking for review; the terminal operators are also looking for the review.

“We cannot review the port concessioning on behalf of anybody; all parties must come together and NSC has an important role to play in that.

“We must be part of that concession because we are the port economic regulator, we are the neutral referees.”

He said that the NSC, as the economic regulator, would advise government, through the minister, on matters relating to the structure of freight rates, availability and adequacy of shipping space.

Bello said that the council would also advise government on frequency of sailings, terms of shipment and class as well as quality of vessels. (NAN)

– Sept. 22, 2018 @ 13:19 GMT |