Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC will soon commence sanctioning of service providers and port users in the maritime industry that fails to register their operations after a month from Thursday 18th, 2021.
The new effort is coming
after two years of initiating the registration of stakeholders in the section
inline with its statuary function.
Executive Secretary of the
NSC, Hassan Bello, told those who were present on ground and those who joined
the meeting virtually that there will be first and second warnings for those
who fail to comply before sanctions will be applied.
Bello who was represented by Director, Consumers Affairs of the NSC, Cajetan Agu, said those to be affected include, the Nigerian Ports Authority; seaport Terminal Operators; shipping Companies and Agencies; cargo Consolidators and ff-Dock Terminal Operators. Others are logistics’ service providers; freight forwarders and clearing agents; Inland Container Depot operators; stevedoring companies and any other port service provider or user.
According to him, “As I said
in my speech, we have given them another one month to come and register with
the NSC, failure to do such will attract appropriate sanction as contained in
our regulations.
“If you go to our
regulations, sanction 5down wards; there is a lot of sanction.
“There will be first
warnings, second warning, de-listing and stopping defaulting companies from providing
services in the sector or even sealing off. There are many of them; it depends
on the degree of the offense.
“I mentioned some of the benefits attached to the registration. It will guide the government in planning; you must know all the people operating in the sector. Even in banks, the issue of knowing your customers; is there.
“So how do you plan when you
do not know people operating in the sector? If you go to the port you will see
people moving in and out, you do not know who is who. You must know those
people that are providing services in the sector.
“If we know the people we
registered, it will help us to perform our regulatory function better. Then in
terms of services, there are several services that the NSC carries out, those
who register with us can benefit from such services,” he noted.
GUIDELINES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS
AND USERS IN THE REGULATED PORT SECTOR IN NIGERIA
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC (Port Economic) Regulations 2015, FRN Official Gazette No. 31, Vol. 102, Government Notice No. 28 seeks to create an effective regulatory regime at Nigerian Ports for the Control of Tariffs, Rates, Charges and other related economic services. The Regulations oblige all Service Providers in the Ports to register with the NSC pursuant to Regulation 4 (1).
REGULATED SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE PORT SECTOR
1. The Nigerian Ports Authority;
2. Seaport Terminal Operators;
3. Shipping Companies and Agencies;
4. Off-Dock Terminal Operators;
5. Cargo Consolidators;
6. Logistics Service Providers;
7. Freight Forwarders and Clearing Agents;
8. Inland Container Depot Operators;
9. Stevedoring Companies;
10. Any other port service provider or user.
REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION
A. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
To register under this category, the Government Agency shall submit to the Registry, the following:-
i. Completed Form NSC/SR duly completed, signed and stamped/sealed by relevant officials; and
ii. Any other relevant document.
B. LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS
To register under this category, the Logistics Service Provider shall submit to the Registry, Form NSC/SR, duly completed, signed and stamped/sealed by relevant officials along with the following:-
i. Evidence of Registration with Relevant Agencies.
ii. Current Tax Clearance Certificate.
iii. Certified True Copy of Certificate of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission; and
iv. Form CAC 7 (Particulars of Directors) if Applicable.
C. SHIPPING AGENCIES/COMPANIES/LINES
To register under this category, the Shipping Agency/Company/Line shall submit to the Registry, Form NSC/SR, duly completed, signed and stamped/sealed by relevant officials along with the following:-
i. Certified True Copy of Certificate of Incorporation with Corporate Affairs Commission;
ii. Evidence of Registration with NPA, NIMASA and Other Relevant Agencies;
iii. Current Tax Clearance Certificate; and
iv. Certified True Copy of Form CAC 7 (Particulars of Directors) if applicable.
D. TERMINAL OPERATORS
To register under this category, the Terminal Operator shall submit to the Registry, Form NSC/SR, duly completed, signed and stamped/sealed by relevant officials along with the following:-
i. A copy of the Current Concession, PPP or Lease Agreement (where applicable);
ii. Certified True Copy of Certificate of Incorporation with Corporate Affairs Commission;
iii. Evidence of Registration with NPA and other relevant Agencies;
iv. Current Tax Clearance Certificate; and
v. Form CAC 7 (Particulars of Directors).
E. OTHER PORT SERVICE PROVIDERS AND USERS
To register under this category, the Service Provider or User shall submit to the Registry, Form NSC/SR duly completed, signed and stamped/sealed by relevant officials along with the following:-
i. Certified True Copy of Certificate of Incorporation/Business Name Registration Certificate (if any);
ii. Current Tax Clearance Certificate;
iii. Evidence of Registration with NPA, NIMASA, Shippers’ Association and other bodies (if any); and
iv. Form CAC 7 (Particulars of Directors) if any.
PAYMENT OF FEES
Once the application is submitted and appropriate fees paid, provided the applicant satisfies all registration requirements, the Registrar shall accept the application and same shall be processed and a Certificate of Registration issued within 7 (Seven) working days. Registration fees for each category are as follows:-
1. Seaport Terminal Operators -N50,000
2. Shipping Lines Agencies - N50,000
3. Inland Container Depot/Dry Port Operators - N25,000
4. Shipping Agency (Non-Vessel Operating Agency - N10,000
5. Cargo Consolidators/ De-consolidators - N10,000
6. Off Dock / Bonded Terminal Operators - N10,000
7. Freight Forwarders & Clearing Agents - N5,000
8. Berge Operators - N5,000
9. Hauliers - N5,000
10.Stevedoring Companies - N5,000
11.Shippers Associations - N5,000
12.Cargo Surveyors - N5,000
13. Jetty Operators - N5,000
14.Shippers - N1,000
15.Other Service Providers and Users - N5,000
F. ANNUAL RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION: Same as above
NOTE:
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) reserves the right to review the above fees.
Registration form for each category of Service Providers or Users may be obtained free of charge at any of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s offices spread across the country or maybe downloaded at www.shipperscouncil.gov.ng
Duly completed application forms shall be submitted with all relevant documents listed in the guidelines, to the Registrar, Stakeholders’ Registry, Consumer Affairs Department, 4th Floor, Shippers Towers, 4 Otunba Ayodele Soyode Lane, Apapa-Lagos or at any of the Council’s Offices nationwide.
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