NPMA Cries out to Govt, Describes New Regulatory Bill as Inimical To Nigerian Shippers
By Joy Enamuna
The President of Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association (NPMA), Comrade Chinedu Ukatu, has totally expressed serious fear that the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulator Agency bill, about to be passed into law after the reading on the floor of the Senate could replace shippers interest in the trading communities.
This was contained in a press release sent to Lagos Trace News Magazine during the week. It also stated that the bill was targeted at revenue objectives in which the Shippers protection is not guaranteed.
According to the press release, “As an international trading public, we have continued to put forth our great hue and cry, protesting that there is something wrong with our whole shipping and port system, especially, with respect to double handlings and indiscriminate charges.
The release further listed eleven of their prayers to the International communities as;
1. A maritime industry where regulators publicize zero piracy attacks on Nigeria bound vessels, yet, an economic regulator prefers that, the “international war risk insurance charges” be imposed on its shippers without recourse.
2. An industry, where global actors express grave concerns on: Geopolitical tensions, rising shipping costs, and emerging industrial policies restrictions which could reshape global trade patterns negatively, yet, a supposedly shippers interests protector prefers to fold its hands an even romanticizing issues with stakeholders, while the Shippers are being exploited and distorted, all in the name of inter agency collaborations, which to us, was consented to wet ground and garner support in its quest to metamorphose into Industry Economic Regulator.
3. An industry, where the interests of the Nigeria Shippers no longer matter to its protecting council, as it appears comfortable and resorts to the backbench while the international carriers and other stakeholders in the international trade and port value supply chain, endlessly chronicle all form of logical and illogical charges, both official and unofficial,against the shippers.
4. On indiscriminate charges: While we are the chicken that lays the golden eggs in the supply chain, the protective Council has allowed us to become the sacrificial lamb that must be butchered for suya without recourse to our contributions to national economy.
5. As international trading public, we now find ourselves in an industry where we are often exploited and compelled, against best international practices and norms, as we helplessly accept and pay illegal charges and fees above industry average to both multinational and local entities of which we have been roundly classified as “non compliant trading public”, while as of truth, those who classified us as such are the ones who are actually not compliant with their trade and monetary policies.
6. As international trading public, we directly and indirectly pay for their gross inconsistency, unpredictable tariff regime, always shifting goal posts in the middle of the game thus, leaving a patriotic business man who is profit driven to fall into an operationally crafted selfish system, created to serve more of selfish purposes than common interests as proven in every trade malpractices since it takes two to tango .
7. Unfortunately, no regulatory measure has been deployed to ascertain the negative impact of all these directly or indirectly imposed charges on the Nigeria shippers. It does no longer interest anyone, especially, in the face of rising inflation which is further impoverishing the consuming public, who are already grappling with too many bills in the face of ailing economic hardship, hunger and starvation.
8. Regrettably, the Shippers council we knew before now, was a Council that took several steps to combat industry monopoly where virtually, no competition thrived, especially in the port value adding supply chain. Here we are, that same council is gearing up to join the league that exploits the Nigerian Shippers.
9. We observe to our astonishment, as the council we respect for its doggedness, that ideally, is expected to regulate or call industry players to order is now hobnobbing with the same, penciling them down for performance/ merit and certification awards and not the other way round.
10. We never expected that this Council would eventually change like other regulatory stakeholders in the maritime industry that have continued exhibiting the mentality of a shopkeeper that does not take inventories. As it stands, none ever cares or bothers, why must the cost of doing business in our ports remain very high yet no one is sincerely worried about it as the nation is now tagged or classified as one of the globally unfriendly ports.
11. We did observe too, that in a dramatic twist, the operationally focused, ever dedicated and passionate staff of the Council, reputed for their technical- know- how, and patriotism, are now helplessly shifting with farewell looks on their faces, waving at the Nigerian Shippers. Even as they appear to be either manipulated for political elites’ sake to jettison their love for the Nigeria shippers, while the political elites representatives use sanctions to keep them helpless in advancing the cause and protecting the interest of Nigerian shippers which is their key obligation. This indeed, is an unfortunate situation. But to all the wonderful staff, we still owe our gratitude.
“I do not care if I throw every single weapon or reactor into the ocean after we are done. We would have modernized French industry”.
Those were the passionate words of Charles De Gaulle in his efforts and commitment to develop independent market places and modernize the French industry in general.”
“With the present vacuum in the protection of the Nigerian shippers interests, we shall uphold the same spirit of De Gaulle, to pursue via legislative mechanism, an independent shippers protection commission,” he said.
