By GODFREY BIVBERE & IFEYINWA OBI

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello has said that the Council will use efficient port pricing to stem the tide of capital flight ravaging the maritime industry.

FPSO Vessel

Bello made this pledge at a one-day seminar on “Achieving fair and equitable port pricing system in Nigeria” in Lagos.

He promised to ensure a sustainable port pricing system that will boost port operation in the country. Bello who was represented by the Chief Operations Officer, Compliance and Monitoring unit of the Council, Mrs. Catherine Ifeora, said the port plays a crucial role in the economy of any country, hence it must be provided with utmost attention that would ensure smooth movement of cargoes.

To this end, he pointed out that an efficient ports pricing would ensure that port facilities are used in the most efficient manner which would lead to improved asset utilisation and cushioned capital flight. The NSC boss noted that a right pricing mechanism would promote prosperity and growth of the port.

“Wrong pricing can guide port to inefficiency or even extinction; also a high pricing could deprive a port of high patronage of vessels and cargoes. Wrong prices will reduce demand for cargo services and when the demand for port services is reduced equipment at the ports will be underutilised. Even with monopoly, high port prices will hurt persons the port is suppose to serve. Low port prices, on the other hand, could bring life into a port but congestion may be the order of the day,” he stated.

In his remarks at the event, Chairman of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, commended the Federal Government for giving the Council the statutory responsibility to regulate the port.

Jolapamo, who was chairman of the event stressed that “it is only in Nigeria that ships are sent to the port without money by the ship owner to settle dues.”

He charged the NSC to ensure that anomalies in the maritime industry are corrected within the shortest possible time frame.