By Godwin Oritse

Contrary to reports that the proposed Cargo Tracking Note, (CTN), will increase cost of clearance from the ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, (NSC), has said that the proposed Cargo Tracking Note will rather checkmate the issue of under declaration.

Disclosing this to newsmen at a training programme for maritime reporters in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council , Barrister Hassan Bello said that the Cargo Tracking Note is not only checkmating under declaration, it also brings about trade information.

NSC boss, Barr. Hassan Bello

Hassan explained that the Council has consulted and still consulting with stakeholders with a view to ensuring that everybody keys into the CTN being proposed.

“Although, no agreement has been signed, some freight forwarding groups have come up with two more points to be added to the agreement.” He added

Hassan also assured that the new CTN will not add to the cost of cargo clearance, but will add value to port operation.

He further disclosed that the proposed CTN will be made obligatory just as the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), has commended the move to checkmate under declaration and share trade information.

The CTN will also assist the Nigeria Customs Service to its risk mitigation on imports, enhance and block revenue leakages at the ports.

The CTN, according to Bello will not involve any form of documentation as all CTN procedures will be paperless.

Cargo Tracking Note as a security measure which was introduced about a year ago by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is to ensure safety and security of goods shipped from one part of the world to another.

It is meant to be implemented worldwide. The regulation requires shippers to have a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) accompanying all shipments.

It stipulates that shippers must obtain a Cargo Tracking Note from the appointed representative at all ports around the world.“The Cargo Tracking Note is to be issued at the port of loading and the CTN numbers inserted in the Bill of Lading (B/L) and cargo manifests.”