NSC, SON step up partnership to drive trade facilitation in Nigerian ports
The management of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Thursday in Lagos sealed an understanding to collaborate with other sister agencies to drive trade facilitation at Nigerian ports.
In his keynote address at a one-day enlightenment seminar titled; ‘Ethics and Integrity in Shipping Trade’ in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Barr Hassan Bello he noted that “This seminar is aimed at ensuring that stakeholders adhere to international best practices in the conduct of their business, be it export or import, as doing so will go a long way in actualizing the NSC’s drive for a new port order, reduce cost and improve efficiency in the port system.”
“The Council’s goal is to promote an efficient port system that will encourage healthy competition, enthrone transparency, facilitate trade, reduce cost of doing business and make all players aware of their duties, obligations, responsibilities and liabilities.
Bello averred that “With high ethical practices in place in the port system, vices such as impunity, presumptuous behaviours and ignorance with respect to adherence to procedures, rules and regulations will be minimized.
He expressed delights on the readiness of SON to partner with the Council in driving efficiency in trade facilitation.
Also speaking, the Director general of SON, Chief Osita Aboloma said SON appreciates inter-agency collaboration in driving efficiency and ease of doing business at the ports.
Aboloma, represented by the Director, Inspection and Compliance Directorate, Engr Obiorah Nwanafa restated that the main target of SON is to discourage influx of substandard goods even though our establishment Act empowers us to impound and destroy fake products.
Aboloma further revealed that in line with excellent service delivery, staff of SON had been on regular training and re-training to continue manpower development from time to time.
At the seminar, several papers were delivered by top officials of other sister agencies including the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) even as other port stakeholders made strategic presentations.
