The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is partnering some stakeholders to promote shipping.
Its Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, said the agency was collaborating with the Nigerian chapter of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) for effective training and capacity development.
He spoke when he received the officials of ICS, led by its Chairman, Captain S. Olanrewaju, in his office.
According to him, the visit is timely and appropriate because it came at a time the Ministry of Transportation is taking stock of shipping.
He said the NSC, being the economic regulator of the ports, plays an advisory role to the government on macro-economic issues as they affect shipping and transportation.
Bello said it was imperative for the council to seek knowledge on types of ships, vessels, the configurations and trade routes.
The council, he said, must know the various branches of shipping like freight forwarding, consolidation of cargoes and others to help it advise the government, especially now that the Council is the chairman of the Nigerian Fleet Implementation Committee (NFIC).
“If you control the means of transportation, you control the trade. There is the need for us to own and operate ship in order to boost our economy through the earning that we will get. It is not right to leave it in the hands of foreigners to control. They make make money in our country and go back to their country.”
Olanrewaju sought the council’s support to sponsor its workforce on short and long-term professional and skill development programmes.
The institute, he said, was brought from London to boost the economy.
