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WHO IS A SHIPPER?
Literally, a shipper is a person or corporate body who enters into contract of afreightment with the carrier for the carriage of cargo from one point to another. However, in the Nigerian context, a shipper is a person or corporate body who is a regular consignee or consignor of cargo for transportation to and from Nigeria.
WHAT IS THE MAJOR ROLE OF THE NIGERIAN SHIPPERS' COUNCIL?
Nigerian Shippers' Council is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Transport whose major role is that of "Protecting the interests of Nigerian Shippers".
WHY PROTECT THE SHIPPERS?
One main reason shippers need protection is because they are usually numerous, often widely dispersed and on shipping matters they lack any form of commercial relationship with one another. Accordingly, their bargaining power is weak compared to the providers of shipping services. In particular, they need protection from arbitrary charges in service port charges, handling and other charges, and quality, availability, and reliability of the services provided.
HOW ARE SHIPPERS PROTECTED?
The shipping industry involves several activities and therefore, the measures to protect the shippers must be directional.
The Nigerian Shippers' Council protects the interests of the Nigerian Shippers in the following ways:
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Negotiate favourable ocean freight rates to help shippers break new markets.
- Safeguard shipments against Maritime frauds.
- Pursue refunds of excess or arbitrary charges and surcharges on shipments.
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Obtain compensation for losses or damages to your goods during shipment or at the ports.
- Ensure early settlement of your legitimate maritime insurance claims on shipments.
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Pursue redress of your grievances in connection with the clearing and forwarding of your shipments including legitimate grievances over demurrage and/or refund of deposits on containers.
IS THE NIGERIAN SHIPPERS' COUNCIL A GOVERNMENT AGENCY?
The Nigerian Shippers' Council is a government agency under the Federal Ministry of Transport established through Decree No. 13 of 1978 along the lines of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments (UNCTAD). However, recent reforms programmes being implemented is geared towards making the council to be private sector driven.
HOW DO I LODGE MY COMPLAINTS AS A SHIPPER?
A formal complain is lodged and address to the Managing Director Nigerian shippers' Council (see address below).
The Executive Secretary/CEO,
Nigerian Shippers' Council
4 Park Lane, Apapa
Lagos State - Nigeria.
or via e-mail to complaints@shipperscouncil.com
HOW CAN THE NIGERIAN SHIPPERS' COUNCIL ASSIST IN RECOVERING DAMAGED/LOST CARGOES?
By liaising with the appropriate agency involved on behalf of the shipper.
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS OF THE SHIPPERS REGISTRATION SCHEME?
The objectives of the shippers' registration scheme:
- To positively identify shippers and enumerate them.
- To develop a database to render services to shippers.
- To generate an independent revenue source for the Council in line with MOWCA reforms of Shippers' Councils in the country's sub region.
BENEFITS OF THE SHIPPERS REGISTRATION SCHEME.
As a registered shipper, Nigerian Shippers' Council can help you to:
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Negotiate favourable ocean rates to help you break into new markets.
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Safeguard your shipments against maritime frauds.
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Pursue refunds of excess or arbitrary charges and surcharges on your shipments.
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Obtain compensation for losses or damages to your goods during shipment or at the ports.
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Ensure early settlement of your legitimate maritime insurance claims on your shipments.
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Pursue redress of your grievances in connection with the clearing and forwarding of your shipments including legitimate grievances over demurrage and/or refund of deposits on containers.
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Resolve any other problems connected with the shipment of your goods.
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Understand your rights and obligations as it concerns International trade.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Registered shippers would receive:
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Up to date International Trade and other related information through the Internet using the Council's computer facilities.
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Get listed on the Council's Website on the World Wide Web. This is a form of international promotion for your company.
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Regular quarterly supplies of the Nigerian Shippers' Council's Newsletter SHIPPERS NEWS
HOW DO I REGISTER WITH THE NIGERIAN SHIPPERS' COUNCIL?
To receive a Membership Application Form, click here and provide the information required.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF NIGERIAN SHIPPERS' COUNCIL IN RESOLVING SHIPPERS COMPLAINTS/CONFLICTS?
As part of its functions and services, the NSC regularly intervenes in the industry whenever necessary to sort out and resolve complaints referred to it by shippers. The Council handles-all sorts of complaints ranging from over charging, over-invoicing, short-landing, non-delivery, damage to goods to issues such as insurance claims, maritime fraud.
WHICH NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCY PROTECTS CARGO INTERESTS IN THE AIRFREIGHT SECTOR?
It is the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
The Council has a mandate to protect cargo owners in the entire multimodal transport chain-maritime, air, rail, road, pipeline and inland waterways.
It established an Airfreight Stakeholders Forum to facilitate trade in the Air Cargo industry.
WHAT IS CARGO DEFENCE FUND?
The Cargo Defence fund is a project of Nigerian Shippers’ Council instituted to assist Nigerian shippers in their pursuit of claims recoveries and legal remedies.
WHAT ARE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CARGO DEFENCE FUND?
Services provided by Cargo Defence Fund include:
- Legal / Technical advice
- Loan to pursue litigation or arbitration
- Payment for risk management services
- Foreign legal representation
- Cover for specified risks as agreed
- Quality information services
- General risk management advice
- To convene alternative dispute resolution forum
WHO IS ENTITLED TO BENEFIT FROM THE FUND?
Any subscribing importer or exporter operating in Nigeria is entitled to benefit from the fund.
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE TO THE FUND?
By completing the Cargo Defence Fund Subscription Forms and the payment of appropriate fees according to turnover:
| Category |
Turnover |
Fees |
| A |
100,000,000 - 1,000,000,000 |
100,000 |
| B |
10,000,000 - 100,000,000 |
75,000 |
| C |
1,000,000 - 10,000,000 |
25,000 |
| D |
Less than 1,000,000 |
15,000 |
WHAT DO I NEED TO PURSUE MY CLAIMS?
Claimants are required to furnish the following information in support of their claims:
- Name and address of a claimant or representative
- Nature, place and date of transaction causing loss or damage
- Details of transaction and copies of contracts
- Efforts made to remedy loss or damage
- Amount of the claim
- Costs of efforts made to remedy loss
TO WHOM SHOULD A CLAIM BE ADDRESSED?
Claims should be addressed to the Secretary Cargo Defence Fund or the ES/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council through any of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council offices nationwide.
WHAT IS AN INLAND CONTAINER DEPOTS (ICD) OR CONTAINER FREIGHT STATION (CFS)?
A common user facility with public authority status equipped with fixed installations and offering services for handling and temporary storage of import/export laden and empty containers carried under customs control and with Customs and other agencies competent to clear goods for home use, warehousing, temporary admissions, re-export, temporary storage for onward transit and outright export. Transshipment of cargo can also take place from such stations.
WHAT DO ICDs AIM TO ACHIEVE?
ICDs:
- Bring shipping services to the door step of shippers across the nation
- Assist in decongesting the seaports and make them more user-friendly
- Help revive and modernize the railway as a primary mode for the long distance haulage of cargo
- Assist in the reduction of overall cost of cargo
WHERE WILL THE NIGERIAN ICDs BE LOCATED?
Bauchi, Maiduguri and Jos in the Northern part of the Country: Ibadan and Isiala-Ngwa in the South.
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