Proliferation of clearing agents worries Shippers Council
From Eugene Agha, Lagos
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has expressed their worry over the increasing number of freight forwarders at the nation’s ports.
NSC’s Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, who spoke in Lagos, said the large number of agents have made corruption to thrive at the ports.
He however said that technology would make it possible for freight forwarders to clear their consignments without necessarily visiting the ports.
He said to him too much physical contacts by freight forwarders with government operatives can give room to corruption and inefficiency.
Bello described the situation of having too many persons posing as freight forwarders pursuing one container as against the norm in a modern port environment.
He advocated the need for streamlining of freight forwarding by professional through the introduction of a minimum share capital to control entry and uphold standards of firms to be engaged in the business of freight forwarding.
