Finally, FG Approves Return of Cargo Tracking Note in Ports
*NSC optimistic on success of NTC
By Francis Ugwoke
The federal government has approved the re-introduction of Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) in the ports by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).
The approval according to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, has been conveyed to the Ministry of Transport.
Bello disclosed this while speaking to members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers in the Council’s Apapa, Lagos Headquarters.
He explained that the trade facilitation instrument has gone above CTN and now known as Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS) currently being implemented by 23 countries including Cameroun.
Bello however said the introduction of the of ACIS would not be immediately, explaining that the ports economic regulator was fashioning out the best way to go about this.
He described ACIS as having so many benefits in cargo facilitation and addressing issues of leakages and corruption in the ports.
He said that the Council would be calling stakeholders to inform them about what is on ground.
He explained that the Council has given CTN the lowest cost in Africa since according to him, the NSC should not be seen as adding to the cost of doing business.
Bello said, “We have wanted to do the CTN. We even started and things were okay. we wanted to generate acceptability, we are mindful of the cost because we should not add to the cost of doing business. So we gave it a lowest cost in Africa because we have volume to cover that. Unfortunately, that has not materialised but I am happy to tell you that the Federal Government has approved that NSC should go on with it . But this is not going to be immediately. We are still grappling with the best way to go about it …. it has gone above Cargo Tracking Note. Now it is Advanced Cargo Information System which is real time data, some people say it is a deceit but it is not.
“ About 23 countries ….if you want to go to Cameroun all the information , our own aspect is information. But CTN does not belong to Shippers Council, It is an industry instrument. So, for us it is the data. It is very important we become a reference point for data, even planning of infrastructure – if you want to go to any seaport you have to know so many things and data is very important. ACIS is also good in revenue enhancement. There are leakages in the ports and ACTS will plug the leakages and so on, and stop corruption at the ports. We have to call the stakeholders and say this is what we have”.
Bello also Tuesday expressed optimism on the passage of the National Transport Commission (NTC) bill which was returned by the President to the National Assembly over a year ago.
He likened the process that the NTC has been passing through to what happened to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), adding that there is hope that the bill will scale through all the hurdles.
He said, “There is no politics on NTC, it is not a Shippers Council thing. It is an industry thing. The reason the President did not sign it or accent it was because of the reason at that time. It is like PIB, you know how it comes and goes. I hope NTC will be passed very soon.
“The Senate has confirmed on its own, the House of Representatives will be on concurrence and it will be taken to the President . We have the support of the Minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi who is the backbone of the NSC.
“He is the one who has supported us against all odds in this NTC. He has also supported us in ICTN. And he has even written to the President to draw attention to what NSC is doing because whether one likes it or not we have stablised our things and we are reckoned with”
By Francis Ugwoke
The federal government has approved the re-introduction of Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) in the ports by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).
The approval according to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, has been conveyed to the Ministry of Transport.
Bello disclosed this while speaking to members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers in the Council’s Apapa, Lagos Headquarters.
He explained that the trade facilitation instrument has gone above CTN and now known as Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS) currently being implemented by 23 countries including Cameroun.
Bello however said the introduction of the of ACIS would not be immediately, explaining that the ports economic regulator was fashioning out the best way to go about this.
He described ACIS as having so many benefits in cargo facilitation and addressing issues of leakages and corruption in the ports.
He said that the Council would be calling stakeholders to inform them about what is on ground.
He explained that the Council has given CTN the lowest cost in Africa since according to him, the NSC should not be seen as adding to the cost of doing business.
Bello said, “We have wanted to do the CTN. We even started and things were okay. we wanted to generate acceptability, we are mindful of the cost because we should not add to the cost of doing business. So we gave it a lowest cost in Africa because we have volume to cover that. Unfortunately, that has not materialised but I am happy to tell you that the Federal Government has approved that NSC should go on with it . But this is not going to be immediately. We are still grappling with the best way to go about it …. it has gone above Cargo Tracking Note. Now it is Advanced Cargo Information System which is real time data, some people say it is a deceit but it is not.
“ About 23 countries ….if you want to go to Cameroun all the information , our own aspect is information. But CTN does not belong to Shippers Council, It is an industry instrument. So, for us it is the data. It is very important we become a reference point for data, even planning of infrastructure – if you want to go to any seaport you have to know so many things and data is very important. ACIS is also good in revenue enhancement. There are leakages in the ports and ACTS will plug the leakages and so on, and stop corruption at the ports. We have to call the stakeholders and say this is what we have”.
Bello also Tuesday expressed optimism on the passage of the National Transport Commission (NTC) bill which was returned by the President to the National Assembly over a year ago.
He likened the process that the NTC has been passing through to what happened to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), adding that there is hope that the bill will scale through all the hurdles.
He said, “There is no politics on NTC, it is not a Shippers Council thing. It is an industry thing. The reason the President did not sign it or accent it was because of the reason at that time. It is like PIB, you know how it comes and goes. I hope NTC will be passed very soon.
“The Senate has confirmed on its own, the House of Representatives will be on concurrence and it will be taken to the President . We have the support of the Minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi who is the backbone of the NSC.
“He is the one who has supported us against all odds in this NTC. He has also supported us in ICTN. And he has even written to the President to draw attention to what NSC is doing because whether one likes it or not we have stablised our things and we are reckoned with”
FOLLOW US
About Post Author
