As part of efforts to ensure quality service delivery at Nigerian ports, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will develop Consumer Protection Regime (CPR) in the shipping in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Hon. Emmanuel Jime disclosed this during a sensitisation programme for stakeholders on consumer rights and responsibilities in the port and shipping sector.
Speaking at the event jointly organized by NSC and FCCPC, the NSC Executive Secretary represented by Mrs. Ada Okam stated that the maiden sensitization programme is aimed at enlightening maritime stakeholders of their rights and responsibilities in the course of carrying out their activities at the ports.
The NSC boss recalled that the Council in January 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FCCPC to work together on specific areas of concern of both agencies in the shipping and ports industry.
While reinstating NSC’s commitment to remain fair, neutral, unbiased, and provide a level playing field in its capacity as the port economic regulator, the Executive Secretary added that there are plans to conduct sensitization exercises at various ports and inland locations in order to get necessary inputs from stakeholders.
“As we are all aware, the shipping industry comprises various players who in the course of daily transactions are bound to trample and infringe on each other’s rights.”
“Let me use this opportunity to express the commitment of the NSC to remain fair, neutral, unbiased, and provide a level playing field in our capacity as the port economic regulator. We shall remain open to consultation and will ensure that critical decisions in the port and shipping sector are arrived at by consensus opinion of stakeholders,” the NSC boss said.
On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr. Babatunde Irukera stressed the importance of protection of consumers’ rights in the shipping and port system, adding that it is pivotal to the effectiveness and development of the nation’s economy.
Irukera who was represented by the Director, Legal Services FCCPC, Mr. Tam Tamunokobia, commended the Executive Secretary and the Council for the collaboration.
“We must ensure that the consumer is protected. The issue of consumers should be uppermost in our minds. Secondly, to that effect, we need to choose a frontier of our cooperation and collaboration.
“I have looked at the Shippers’ Council Act, I have looked at our Act and in both cases, collaboration is needed and highlighted. Where there is effective collaboration, there is no room for fighting, when we collaborate, the consumers will be the beneficiaries”, Irukera noted.
The Director of Programme, Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) Mr Emmanuel Bosah in his presentation hinted on importance the enforcement of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by the NSC for effective service delivery. He noted that Service providers in the private sector, such as shipping companies must equally introduce transparent SOPs that make clear charges, timelines, and procedures, without compromising their trade secrets.
Bosah also informed that the introduction of a technology-based grievance reporting mechanism in the form of the Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) and the Help Desk operated by the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, under the current port reform initiative, has empowered port users to report incidences of corrupt demands by port officials in real-time and receive timely resolution of complaints.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of MSC Shipping, Mr Andrew Lynch noted that the five major consumers rights include the rights to be informed, right to choose, right to consumer education, right to seek redress, right to fair dealings and to be heard.
Andrew Lynch who was represented by the MSC Head of Customers Service for Import and Export, Olumide Adefisan also stated the responsibilities of consumers, stressing that all consumers in the port and shipping industry should be honest with all their provided information and make honest declarations in order to build and sustain integrity in the maritime sector.