Bello: COVID-19 Necessitates e-Commerce, Smart Ports
Dr. Kola Awe , Chairman, Export Group, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Chief Catejan Agu, Director Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Madu Obiora, Africa Centre for Supply Chain and Mrs. Christie Jatau, Deputy Director, Trade Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the need for e-commerce or digitlisation in ports operations, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello has said.
Bello said with the ravaging pandemic, digitalisation of the ports was important in order to reduce human to human contact and paper based transactions.
In an address on the occasion of a sensitisation workshop with the theme – “stakeholders on trade facilitation during the covid-19 pandemic – challenges, lessons and the way forward” held in Apapa, the NSC CEO also called for the introduction of the concept of ‘smart ports’ in line with the international best practice.
He said that in order to keep up the momentum and review the operational activities during the lockdown, the NSC packaged series of sensitization workshop for stakeholders, including government agencies and port service operators to discuss trade facilitation challenges and lessons.
According to him, this was to reflect on ways of actualising a national action plan to cushion the adverse effects of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy.
Bello pointed out the importance of trade facilitation, adding that this was why the United National Conference and Development (YNCTAD) introduced 10 point action plan to strengthen international trade and transport during the pandemic.
He identified the 10 point action plan include : “ensure uninterrupted shipping, keep the ports open, protect international trade of critical goods and speed up customs clearance and trade facilitation, facilitate cross-border transport to ensure free flow of goods across borders, ensure the right transit, safeguard transparency and provision of up-date- information, go paperless..electronic submissions and paperless transactions, protect shippers and transport service providers alike and prioritise technical assistance by investing in human institutional and technology capacities”.
Bello stressed the importance of these resolutions, adding that they became visibly clear locally in Nigeria at the height of the lockdown.
He disclosed that the Council on noting some of the challenges of the shippers to clear their goods during the period of the lockdown had to come up with remedial measures.
He said it was through the NSC intervention that the Central Bank of Nigeria directed the commercial banks to open all branches within the port areas to receive payments.
He added that the CBN had also directed banks to confirm payments for bank drafts as well as online transfers and provide foreign exchange to shippers, shipping line agents and terminals.
Bello said the Council had among others helped the shippers to secure 100 percent demurrage waivers during the time of the pandemic lockdown from March 30 to May 4.
The truckers also reduced 30 percent of haulage costs across the board as a result of the intervention of the Council, he said.
The Council, he added, had equally constituted COVID-19 Task Force to review port operations during the pandemic and come up with recommendations on how to address issues identified
Bello said with the ravaging pandemic, digitalisation of the ports was important in order to reduce human to human contact and paper based transactions.
In an address on the occasion of a sensitisation workshop with the theme – “stakeholders on trade facilitation during the covid-19 pandemic – challenges, lessons and the way forward” held in Apapa, the NSC CEO also called for the introduction of the concept of ‘smart ports’ in line with the international best practice.
He said that in order to keep up the momentum and review the operational activities during the lockdown, the NSC packaged series of sensitization workshop for stakeholders, including government agencies and port service operators to discuss trade facilitation challenges and lessons.
According to him, this was to reflect on ways of actualising a national action plan to cushion the adverse effects of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy.
Bello pointed out the importance of trade facilitation, adding that this was why the United National Conference and Development (YNCTAD) introduced 10 point action plan to strengthen international trade and transport during the pandemic.
He identified the 10 point action plan include : “ensure uninterrupted shipping, keep the ports open, protect international trade of critical goods and speed up customs clearance and trade facilitation, facilitate cross-border transport to ensure free flow of goods across borders, ensure the right transit, safeguard transparency and provision of up-date- information, go paperless..electronic submissions and paperless transactions, protect shippers and transport service providers alike and prioritise technical assistance by investing in human institutional and technology capacities”.
Bello stressed the importance of these resolutions, adding that they became visibly clear locally in Nigeria at the height of the lockdown.
He disclosed that the Council on noting some of the challenges of the shippers to clear their goods during the period of the lockdown had to come up with remedial measures.
He said it was through the NSC intervention that the Central Bank of Nigeria directed the commercial banks to open all branches within the port areas to receive payments.
He added that the CBN had also directed banks to confirm payments for bank drafts as well as online transfers and provide foreign exchange to shippers, shipping line agents and terminals.
Bello said the Council had among others helped the shippers to secure 100 percent demurrage waivers during the time of the pandemic lockdown from March 30 to May 4.
The truckers also reduced 30 percent of haulage costs across the board as a result of the intervention of the Council, he said.
The Council, he added, had equally constituted COVID-19 Task Force to review port operations during the pandemic and come up with recommendations on how to address issues identified
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