Hassan Bello clears air on Essential Cargoes

Chinazor Megbolu

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Barr. Hassan Bello has cleared air on “Essential Cargoes” as it implies during the lockdown period.

He disclosed this on Sunday after an enquiry on a maritime WhatsApp platform.

According to him; “please thanks for giving me opportunity to explain. The “essential cargo” was quoting from the President’s speech and it just means (as kindly explained above) priority cargo, which could mean food, medicine, pharmaceuticals equipment, raw materials for manufacturing etc”.

Bello also noted that all other cargoes could actually be cleared but essential cargoes have priority within the lockdown period.

“However, the priority for essential cargo is within the 2 weeks shut down. I hope I have tried because sometimes, nothing is straight,” Bello said.

He, however maintained that he was impressed with the narratives on the WhatsApp group and urged all stakeholders in the forum to continue to dialogue and proffer solutions that would move the industry forward.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Bello and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) recently warned freight forwarders that, only essential cargoes would be cleared at the ports during the lockdown period towards containing spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

The two government agencies during a combined press briefing had said that luxury goods would only be cleared after the lockdown had been lifted.

Editing by ‘Biodun Soyele