…as shipping lines association rejects
proposed cargo tracking bill
By Gloria Ikibah
The Executive Secretary, Shippers Council of Nigeria, Pius Akutah, in his submission said that the country lost $2.5 billion in five years and $500 million annually over the non-implementation of the international cargo tracking notes (ICTN).
The Executive Secretary made the revelation at an investigative heaqring organised by the House of Representative Committee On Shipping Services and Related Matters, on the circumstances surrounding the non-implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Notes, whicglh identifies challenges faced by the Nigeria Shippers Council in carrying outfits roles effectively.
Akutah said: “Nigeria has lost almost 2.5 billion dollars. Within the last five years that Nigeria has not implemented this.Because of some investigations that arose out of which EFCC conducted some of its investigations, a period of five years passed.
“Within the last five years. They implemented for two years and somehow stopped.In the last five years they have not done it.We are losing that amount in dollars.
“So in Nigeria today, there have been some attempts that were made at implementing this. Altogether a period of two years, was the period in which this was implemented. And some revenue was generated at that time. But because of some issues surrounding the implementation, and the issues that were raised that led to investigation by even the law enforcement agencies, this only took place within a period of two years.
“And within the last five years or thereabouts that this has not been implemented, Nigeria has lost not less than one to five billion dollars. If we implement it, that is what we should be able to put in the economy, within a period of two years. And the implementation as at that time was very brief, but it generated quite a good number of income for the country. So this is just part of what Nigeria is losing”.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, explained said that though the Federal Executive Council of the previous administration approved the contract at the tail end of the administration but the process of award of the contract was wrong.
According to the Minister who represented by Director, Maritime Services in the Ministry, Babatunde Sule, the process that led to the approval of the Contract by the previous administration was wrong.
The chairman of the Commitee on Shipping Services and Related Matters, Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki asserted that the ICTN is far more than an administrative requirement but an essential tool designed to bring transparency, security, and operational efficiency to the movement of cargo across borders.
But the Chairman , Shipping Lines Association of Nigeria, Boma Alabo SAN, in her submission vehemently rejected the proposed Cargo Tracking Bill, as she described it as another toll gate for government, and that it will not amplify the ease of doing business and trading in Nigeria.
According to her, the shipping industry in Nigeria was already over burdened with red tape and does not need another layer of bureaucracy which is what the proposed Cargo Tracking Bill will result in.
She said: “All exporters and importers are able to track their goods on the website of the shipping lines generally speaking. In addition, the shipping lines have to upload their manifest to the Customs NICIS portal which is connected to the CBN single window. They also have to upload this information to NPA, NIMASA, NDLEA, and DSS.
“Adding, the ICTN without streamlining the existing process will only result in further delays and congestion”.