Shippers’ council to review approved haulage rates for Eastern Ports

Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, said that it would commence review of the new approved haulage rates from Eastern ports to various destinations in the country in June. The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Pius Akutah, noted that the 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, port users and operators in Port Harcourt. Akutah, who was represented by the Director, South-South Zone of NSC, Mr. Glory Onojedo, 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. Onojede said the Shippers’s Council Boss said the review of the new haulage rates at the next stakeholders meeting in June was generally accepted by all parties at the just concluded stakeholders meeting.

 He listed associations present at the meeting as, 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.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Director, Inland Transport Services, Mr. James Atilola while reading the communique signed by the stakeholders at end of the meeting announced that the new haulage rates approved last month should not be forced on any stakeholder until the next two months after the review of the new rates at the next stakeholders meeting. He said: “The authorised 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.”