Court Case Delaying Cargo Tracking Note Implementation, Says Shippers Council
NSC SHIPPERS COUNCIL
By Francis Ugwoke
The processes leading to the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) in Nigeria will have to wait until the court case on the matter is decided, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has said .
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Emmanuel Jime, had last year identified the ICTN as a among his port development agenda.
The NSC believes that ICTN is imperative in addressing security issues revolving around some cargoes coming into the country , trade fraud by shippers such as under-declaration, outright concealment and shipowners who cheat the government by under-declaring the gross registered tonnages of their vessels.
Jime had last year promised that the processes in respect of ICTN would be concluded as early as possible to enable implementation.
However, responding to a question when members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers visited him, the NSC CEO regretted that the Council will have to hold on until the case on ICTN is determined.
He said that the court case is affecting the plan on the project.
Jime who was reluctant discussing the issue since the matter is in court said though the Council is interested in deploying ICTN for an efficient trade facilitation, it has no choice than to wait until the outcome of the case.
He said, “From my perspective as a regulator and one who has the mandate of implementation, the only thing I can say now is that the court case is actually delaying the implementation of the ICTN. That really is the area of concern. The processes under our watch were properly conducted but this is a matter like I said that can only be canvassed in the law court and as a lawyer I know the limit I am able to discuss a matter that is in court”.
It would be recalled that the Trustees of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) had in the second week of December last year dragged the federal government to court seeking to stop the process in appointing an agent for ICTN.
ICTN is seen as capable of addressing security issues, fraudulent practices by importers and expected to reduce the time spent in processing goods delivery, among others.
A court order had restrained Medtech Scientific Limited and Rozi International Nigeria Limited (4th and 5th defendants) or their agents from parading themselves as operators of ICTN until the case is determined.
The processes leading to the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) in Nigeria will have to wait until the court case on the matter is decided, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has said .
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Emmanuel Jime, had last year identified the ICTN as a among his port development agenda.
The NSC believes that ICTN is imperative in addressing security issues revolving around some cargoes coming into the country , trade fraud by shippers such as under-declaration, outright concealment and shipowners who cheat the government by under-declaring the gross registered tonnages of their vessels.
Jime had last year promised that the processes in respect of ICTN would be concluded as early as possible to enable implementation.
However, responding to a question when members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers visited him, the NSC CEO regretted that the Council will have to hold on until the case on ICTN is determined.
He said that the court case is affecting the plan on the project.
Jime who was reluctant discussing the issue since the matter is in court said though the Council is interested in deploying ICTN for an efficient trade facilitation, it has no choice than to wait until the outcome of the case.
He said, “From my perspective as a regulator and one who has the mandate of implementation, the only thing I can say now is that the court case is actually delaying the implementation of the ICTN. That really is the area of concern. The processes under our watch were properly conducted but this is a matter like I said that can only be canvassed in the law court and as a lawyer I know the limit I am able to discuss a matter that is in court”.
It would be recalled that the Trustees of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) had in the second week of December last year dragged the federal government to court seeking to stop the process in appointing an agent for ICTN.
ICTN is seen as capable of addressing security issues, fraudulent practices by importers and expected to reduce the time spent in processing goods delivery, among others.
A court order had restrained Medtech Scientific Limited and Rozi International Nigeria Limited (4th and 5th defendants) or their agents from parading themselves as operators of ICTN until the case is determined.
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