Shippers’ Council Collaborates with FRSC, Harps on Safety Standard

By Eromosele Abiodun

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime has affirmed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), to address the issue of the quality of articulated trucks used in the maritime sector as a complement to FRSC’s efforts to make Nigeria’s highways safer.

Jime stated this when the Federal Road Safety Corps top echelon led by the Corps Marshal; Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi paid a courtesy visit to the agency’s Headquarters in Lagos.

The NSC boss who expressed appreciation for the visit said, “Today is another amazing day to me, as I am delighted and feel honoured to welcome the Corp Marshal/CEO of the Federal Road Safety Commission to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. It is also gratifying to note that you came from Abuja, on the special visit, to welcome me as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Council.”

“Within the Council’s mandate as Port Economic Regulator and Trade Facilitation Agency, we identify critical issues challenging the performance of our nation’s logistics sector and the growth of our international trade. In response to them, the Council has identified collaborative partnerships with relevant government agencies and Organized Private Sector as Key to solutions”, he added.

He noted that NSC and FRSC have recorded great strides in the on-going collaboration.
This, he said, is evident in the collaboration on development and operations of critical transport infrastructure, particularly the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) and Vehicle Transit Areas(VTAs).

“The resolutions reached at the meeting with stakeholders in May 2021 have given further impetus to the collaborative partnership between the Council and the FRSC, especially as they relate to the development of a structural and sustainable haulage system, the standardization of trucks as it concerns the implementation of Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme RTSSS) and Inter-State Road Transit (ISRT) Scheme. Other areas, according to the ES/CEO include a joint awareness programme for truck owners and drivers on the use of reflective tapes, “he said.

Addressing journalists, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi lamented the continuous breakdown of trucks on ports access roads, noting that it is one of the issues causing congestion.

“In his words:” We the Road Safety is raising alarm about the situation. We want all vehicles causing congestion in Apapa and Tin- Can Island Port to be removed from the roads as this is at the detriment of other road users.”

The Corps Marshal said it is gratifying that his agency is working with Nigerian Shippers’ Council on Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme, supporting the development of NSC’s transport infrastructure projects, especially the Inland Dry Ports and Trucks Transit Parks, Sensitization/ Enlightenment programmes for truckers, to mention just a few areas.