INTRODUCTION The performance of shippers of any country has a very significant impact on the cost of goods, balance of payment and rate of inflation. Therefore, services rendered to the shippers by the Council will ultimately translate to improvement in the growth of the economy. We therefore, realize the importance of an enlightened community of shippers hence the geographic spread of zones. The North West Coordinating Zone (NWCZ) takes care of seven states; North East Coordinating Zone (NECZ) covers nine States; South East Coordinating Zone (SECZ) covers nine States; South-South Coordinating Zone covers two states South West Coordinating Zone (SWCZ) covers six States and North Central Coordinating Zone (NCCZ) covers five States inclusive of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has, therefore, set guidelines for carrying out operation functions in the zonal coordinating offices, port offices and area offices. First of all the shippers have to be identified and the following methodologies are recommended for identifying the shippers. Identification of Shippers: The following methodologies are recommended (a) Shippers’ Survey : This entails going out to reach shippers wherever they may be found, discussing with them, identifying the problems they face and proffering solutions to such problems. Field officers should also acquaint the prospective shippers with the benefits they stand to derive from associating with NSC and they should be enlightened on the programme and events of NSC in the Area, Zonal and Head Office. In addition, field officers should go to the prospective shippers with specific and attractive plans for improving their trade. The Zonal Coordinators themselves should then follow up on the field officers’ contacts in order to offer the identified shippers a higher level of interaction. (b) Contact with Major Trade Groups: Officers should approach the Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturers Association etc. where they exist, for the list of prospective shippers and follow them up. Council’s membership of these trade groups is recommended as this will enable officers have access to their membership lists. (c) Contact with Freight Forwarders : This is a good source of shippers identification, where they exist, since they are agents to shippers. (d) Contact with Federal And State Agencies: NEPC, Customs, Ministries (of Industry, Agriculture and Commerce) CBN etc are also important sources of obtaining lists of shippers, in their zones. (e) Publications, Adverts And Special Events of NSC: Prospective shippers could respond to the above and officers should endeavour to use this opportunity to identify shippers. (f) Trade Fairs In The Zones: Participation in Trade Fairs is an important avenue for identifying Shippers in the zones. (g) Registration of Shippers : a) Having identified prospective shippers, efforts should be made to motivate them to register with the Shippers Association in their area. Registration forms could be given to them directly by our officers or they could obtain the form from the Shippers Associations. (h) Handling And Documenting Enquiries From Shippers : (i) The Standard Enquiry Form circulated to all the zones should be put to use and actions taken on shippers enquiries should be included in the monthly reports of the zones forwarded to the Head Office. (i) Handling Shippers Complaints / Claims: a) It is very important to properly handle complaint / claims since the zones are often the first port of call for many shippers. Other Requests for Assistance Outside of Operational Matters : On the issue of demands for employment, donations, local taxes, levies and dues as well as demands for gratifications of all kinds by militant youths in the zonal coordinating offices, (j)Consultations/Meetings : i. This has to do with the type and regularity of meetings with corporate organizations and government agencies in the zones. Such meetings help to create and maintain a momentum for awareness of the roles and activities of the Council in the zones. ii. Consultations with other relevant government agencies in the zone are very important but will depend on the level of shippers’ complaints that warrant such consultations. iii. That ZCOs should play the role of Ombudsmen in their areas of operations and they should therefore initiate meetings and consultations based on the peculiarities of their environment. The ZCOs should also be very active in their participation at meetings and consultations with other agencies in their areas. (k) Formation/Servicing of Shippers Associations : i. Formation of Shippers Associations should be carried out by Zonal Coordinating Offices and Consultants where necessary. (l) Maintenance of Trade Statistics: Trade data should be generated and maintained in the zone. This is in view of the fact that shippers as well as some organizations/agencies now request for such data from the Council and we have found it difficult to live up to expectations in this area. The data to be sourced include commodity types, prices, sources, dealers, origin and destination etc. (m) Seminars/Workshops : Enlightenment programme in form of seminars and workshops are key to the effectiveness of the Councils activities in the zones. (n) Other Functions Not Otherwise Enumerated : To enhance effective performance of operation functions in the zone, there is the need for a strong Public Relations Support. The Public Relations officers sent to the various coordinating offices are to handle public relation activities and are expected to forward a monthly report to the Unit at the Head Office. In addition the customer service function is deemed to be very vital in the zones. To this end, there should be an experienced PR officer in each zone. Each zone should host some social functions or create avenues for social interactions between the Council and shippers.

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