Amaechi harps on need to address arbitrary charges in African ports

Tayo Oladipupo

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has identified high freight rates, arbitrary imposition of charges as the menace bedevilling African ports.

Amaechi said this on the occasion of the sub-regional workshop and Joint Standing Committee Meeting of Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) in Abuja.

He stated that there was the urgent need to proffer lasting solutions that would address such arbitrary and unjustifiable costs.

Amaechi said the problem had been an obstacle to the development of international trade in the region.

He therefore called on members of the Union to “re-appraise and proffer workable solutions to matters relating to negotiations on freight rates, transport costs, port charges and other issues affecting transportation of cargo in the region”.

Amaechi pointed out the great economic potentials in the sub-region especially in the maritime sector, which according to hum, must be harnessed and exploited through concerted efforts and collaboration of member states for the sustainable growth of national economies.

“It is our fervent hope that in the challenging trading climate, UASC members would strive for greater meaningful dialogue with trading partners, providers and users of shipping services, as well as other key stakeholders in the maritime supply chain.

“It would assist in the alignment of stakeholders’ interests leading to the development of more efficient and sustainable maritime supply chains and shipping services”, he said.

The minister promised that the federal government of Nigeria will adopt the resolutions and communiqué reached at the workshop and the meeting and implement them for the benefit of all stakeholders in the trade and transport industry.