Shippers’ Council to review newly approved haulage rates for Eastern Ports in June

Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has said that the new approved haulage rates from Eastern ports to various destinations in the country would be reviewed in June.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah, represented by the Director, South-South Zone of NSC, Mr. Glory Onojedo told newsmen that agreement to review the new haulage rates was reached at the end of an all inclusive stakeholders meeting of truck owners, freight forwarders, maritime workers union of Nigeria (Haulage Unit), and other associations of port users and operators, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

Recalled that the Council last month, after due consideration of moderation cost, cargo transport issues among others, negotiated and approved new haulage rates from Eastern ports to other parts of the country.

The Shippers’s Council Boss said the review of the new haulage rates in June would be done during the next stakeholders meeting as generally accepted by all parties at the just concluded stakeholders meeting,

According to him, associations represented at the meeting by their leaders were; National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria (NASAN), Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors Customs Agents (NCMDCA) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN).

Others include; African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders & Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (Haulage Unit), General Goods Transporters Association of Nigeria, Association of International Traders and Ultimate Importers, Automobile Manufacturers and Importers Association, Aba POP and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, Abia Freight Forwarders of Nigeria among others.

He commended the stakeholders for their harmonious collaboration during the meeting.

Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Inland Transport Services, Mr. James Atilola, while reading the communique signed by the stakeholders at end of the the meeting announced that part of agreement at the meeting was that the new haulage rates approved last month should not be forced on any stakeholder until the next two months after it’s review at the next stakeholders meeting.

He said the agreement followed an appeal by the Maritime workers union for the delay of the review of the new rates for the next two months to enable them consult and sensitize it’s members.

He said, “The authorized representatives of Shippers, Truck Owners, Freight Forwarders, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (Haulage Unit), and other Associations that participated at the all-inclusive meeting for the review of haulage rates for Eastern Ports Corridors to various destinations in Nigeria, resolved as follows:

“That in recognition of some gains that are currently being made in the port access roads, exchange rates, and diesel price adjustment, the two parties agreed to review the new haulage rates at the next Stakeholders’ meeting;

“That the appeal by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (Haulage Unit) for a-two month period to enable them consult and sensitize their members was granted.

“The acceptance of the appeal by the Shippers, Freight Forwarders and other Stakeholders, resolved that the new Haulage Rates should not be forced on any Stakeholders during the period and that the Maritime Workers Union Task Force should not compel anybody to implement the new rates within the agreed two months.

“That the concerned parties should meet amongst themselves and negotiate a realistic and acceptable rates to all parties and bring along for ratification and approval by the Nigerian Shippers Council during the next all inclusive Stakeholders meeting”.