Non-registration: Shippers’ Council To Sanction Port Service Providers

The Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), on Thursday, threatened crackdown on service providers and port users at the nation’s seaports over non-registration of the service with the council.

This was disclosed by the executive secretary, Barr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, at a sensitization program organised for stakeholders on the registration of regulated port service providers and users at the council’s headquarters in Lagos.

The Shippers’ Council boss who was represented by the director of Consumer Affairs, Cajetan Agu, said service providers who have failed to register on the council’s online portal by the third quarter of 2024 will face stern consequences.

LEADERSHIP reports that in a bid to tackle the challenge of faceless Shippers’,  importers and Clearing agents, the Council announced an online registration for terminal operators and other port service providers.

Akutah, however, reiterated the importance of adherence to the online registration requirements by all service providers in the port adding that it was in line with the duties of the council as enshrined in Section 4 of the NCS’s Regulation of 2015.

The Shippers’ Council boss further noted that the registration was geared towards, “having a database of genuine port service providers and users as well as ‘Know Your Customers’ policy.”

The NSC boss highlighted the evolution of payment processes from manual to automated systems within the council and underscored the benefits of registration, “including access to crucial information and the eradication of anonymous shippers.”

Speaking earlier, the assistant director, Consumer Affairs, NSC, Celestine Akujobi, added that only 185 port service providers have so far registered with the council.

He, however, said the council recorded poor registration among local service providers, saying Foreign service providers have registered with the council

“The sanctions awaiting defaulters include withdrawal of NSC services and restrictions on port operations. Only 185 port service providers and users have registered so far. Stakeholders must acquaint themselves with the online registration process to avoid penalties,” Akujobi added.

According to Akujobi, despite a notable uptake in registration among international service providers, “the council is concerned with the lagging compliance among Nigerian counterparts. I want to urge stakeholders to swiftly register with the council to capitalise on the myriad benefits associated with NSC registration,” he said.