We Have Checkmated Claims Of Attacks On Ships, Other Negative Events In The Gulf Of Guinea-Amaechi
The Minister of Transportation, Rt.Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has said that Claims Of Attacks On Ships Or Other Negative Events In The Gulf Of Guinea have been checkmated.
Amaechi said this while addressing participants at the summit organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC), and the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF), on the ” Impact of Unfair Shipping Surcharges and High Local Shipping Charges on National Economies of West and Central African States” held at Abuja on Monday, August 26, 2019.
According to the Minister, “the Federal Government through the Nigerian Shippers council has been using its influence in the GSF to resolve cases affecting Nigeria’s trading interest”.
“Our actions have often checkmated claims of terrorism, piracy, armed attacks on ships or other negative events in the gulf of Guinea, to increase charges and introduce new surcharges on shipment to Nigeria”. A practical example he cited is war risk surcharge which is often levied on Nigeria’s cargo even when Nigeria is not at war.
He assured them that the Federal Government of Nigeria would adopt the resolutions reached at the meeting and implement them to reduce cost of doing business, boost trade and development in the sub-region.
The Vice President in his keynote address said the Federal Government of Nigeria is aware of the disturbing cost of transportation of goods through the ports in the sub-region and is working assiduously through the shippers council to address them.
The Vice President who spoke through the Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said “Also to reduce transport cost and improve efficiency in line with the economic recovery and growth plan, the government of Nigeria is promoting the establishment of modern transport infrastructure such as inland dry ports, standard rail gauge ,truck transit parks and the deep sea port in Lekki that supports multi-modal approach to cargo delivery “.
Prof Osinbajo saluted the courage of the Union of African Shippers Forum for beaming its searchlight on the issues of surcharges in Africa.
”Nigeria will not hesitate to take appropriate measures including legislation to check these unfair trade practices “, he assured.
