NSC sensitizes shippers on export documentation compliance 

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called on Nigerian Shippers to comply with export documentation procedures to enhance acceptance of Nigerian goods abroad.

The Council which said this in an enlightenment campaign on Thursday in Lagos,  reiterated its commitment to ensuring smooth exportation of the nation’s agriculture products, as part of effort to encourage balance of trade and to further create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive at the ports.

The awareness campaign tagged: “Export Documentation Procedures and the Consequences of Non Compliance,” put together by the Monitoring and Enforcement Division, was aimed at addressing challenges confronting Nigerian exporters.

The sensitisation clinic which also had in attendance exporters, transporters, officials from the Nigeria Customs Service, inspection agency, among others was translated in English language,  pidgin, Hausa and Yoruba languages respectively.

While addressing the large crowd of shippers at the popular Danlami Park, Ijora, Lagos,  the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement  Division,  Regulatory Services Department of the council, Mrs. Celine Ifeora, who canvassed zero rejection to Nigeria cargoes, pointed out that the clinic was designed to support exporters in making good profit from their businesses .

The Deputy Director further  explained that “there is a charge called renomination charge that some service providers want to introduce. Although the Council is not in support of the charge, and is still deliberating on the matter with them,” she added.

She however reassured the shippers, that with proper documentation of their cargo, they do not have to worry about the charges.

Ifeora explained that the federal government was concerned about how to assist the exporters of Nigerian products to succeed in their legitimate businesses.

She stated that the council had been informed about the numerous challenges militating against exportation of Nigeria products, thus the need to organize the awareness campaign in furtherance to assist trade facilitation .

The Deputy Director, while harping on the need for shippers to report  cases of anomalies confronting their business, noted that the Council would continue to proffer solutions to promoting Nigerian goods overseas.

She noted that there has been an upsurge in export of Nigerian products,  adding that “We are here to find out all the requirements needed for your export and we also want to know the level of compliance while doing your business.

“We are here also to see how we can come in to assist you in your business,” she added.

She also argued that the council has been at the forefront to tackling shippers complaints, saying the port regulatory agency would continue to sustain the working relations with the shippers.

Also speaking at the programme, Assistant Comptroller, in charge of Export, Apapa Command, Nigeria Customs Service, N. A. Ochai urged  the shippers to ensure that their companies are duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

While educating the shippers,  Ochai noted that exporters must be an affiliate of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN,  adding that false declaration and non compliance poise serious threats to Customs operations

He called on shippers to always check their documentation.

The customs chief noted that “We at customs, our problem is on false declaration and non compliance on the part of the shippers.

“Import and export can be made better if only shippers can embrace honest declaration”, he stressed.

He also urged the shippers to log on to customs portal to get first hand information about import and export guidelines .

“Our own word is due diligence and compliance, therefore everybody must comply with the rule of law .

On his part, Business Development Manager, Cobalt International  Services,  Mr. Odimegwu Obih explained that all goods are subjected to inspection in line with government policy.

Obih called on the shippers to be conversant with export guidelines, even as he called for shippers to engage the organisation for further clarification on their consignment before freighting abroad