Shippers’ Council engages shipping companies on proceed numbers for cargo exports

Abiola Seun     |    

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on Tuesday directed shipping companies and terminal operators to adopt the Nigerian Export Proceeds (NXP) number for exportation.

He noted that the NXP number was produced to smoothen export transaction and the Central Bank of Nigeria gave 90-days transaction period for operators to take that opportunity.

Bello, also during his visit, to the service providers, appreciated the terminal operators for the removal of demurrage charges on cargoes for the period of last week’s disruption of EndSARS protest.

The terminals visited are: APM Terminal (APMT), Maersk Nigeria and the Tincan Island Container Terminal(TICT).

“We are on this round to find out challenges of terminal operators after the disruption of service for the past six-days and ensure that there are no spill over that will affect the economy as it will have adverse consequences.

“Shippers were not able to remove their cargoes so there is need to think about it and come up with incentives so that they will be able to do so,” he said.

Bello added that to also aid transactions at the port, government was investing in infrastructure to tackle problems of transportation, institute an electronic call-up system and by March 2021, link rail to terminals.

He noted that NSC, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are working to ensure tax incentives and to ensure that terminal operators have 98 per cent independent power supply.

He urged the management of the Tincan Island Container Terminal to come up with solutions to ensure the decongestion of people operating at the port by ensuring operations are done digital.

Mr Yemi Adenaike, Customer Experience Manager, Maersk Nigeria lamented their inability to validate the NXP numbers, urging the Executive Secretary to find a temporary solution until the portal was up to speed.

“We anticipated the rush due to the disruption of last week and we have extended the dues of customers till the end of the month.

“Due to our inability to validate the NXP number, we have stopped loading exports and this is not good as it will impact negativity on the terminal, road and others and so we seek your help,” he said.

Also Mr Greg Sipe, Operations Manager, TICT, said that they had already sent notices on their removal of rent on cargoes for the said period.

He noted that they are having issues with customers as they do not want to patronise their online services, adding that the issue of taking people’s cargoes to bonded terminals had been addressed.