Trade facilitation: Transportation Ministry lauds Shippers’ Council  * Harps on synergy with Railway Corporation to move containers from ports

Trade facilitation:Transportation Ministry lauds Shippers’ Council

 *Harps on synergy with Railway Corporation to move containers from ports

By Udeme Clement :

The newly-appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani in Abuja commended Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, for its promotion of  establishment of Vehicle Transit Areas (VTA) amongst other initiatives.

Dr  Ajani said NSC initiatives aimed at trade facilitation to boost the nation’s economy in delivering high quality service to shippers.

Dr. Ajani spoke in response to the briefing she received from the ES/CEO of the Council, who led a team of top management staff to the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

She expressed delight about achievements of the Council and encouraged the management to go ahead with the impressive work they are doing, assuring them of the Ministry’s support.

In his presentation, the ES spoke on various on-going projects and initiatives that the Council has embarked upon.

He told the Permanent Secretary about the push for 24-hour port operations, efforts to address congestion at the ports,  multimodal transportation of goods to and from the ports, as well as digitalisation.

He also spoke about challenges, particularly resistance to regulations.

On the VTAs, Dr. Ajani was particularly excited about the prospect of actualising VTAs at various parts in Nigeria, leading to significant reduction of road traffic accidents.

She said VTAs would create sanity on the roads while generating employment.

The National Single Window according to her is very important for the development of the maritime sector in Nigeria, as it will ease the business of shipping.

The Permanent Secretary commended Heads of maritime agencies for their monthly meeting during which issues within the industry are discussed exhaustively, with a view to finding solutions.

She said the Ministry expects synergy amongst all the agencies under its supervision, in order to deliver on the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari.

She promised that the Ministry would assist Shippers’ Council to actualise its goals.

She pointed out the importance of further synergy between Nigerian Railway Corporation and Shippers Council in transportation of containers from the ports.