ITC Visits Shippers’ Council on Optimising Trade Facilitation

Esther Oluku

A delegation of the International Trade Center (ITC) in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as part of its studies to develop indeginous solutions to optimise trans-border trade facilitation in Africa.

The meeting which held at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Headquarters in Lagos, brought together delegates of the ITC, top Directors of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and stakeholders in the Nigerian shipping industry in a technical session to analyse the challenges to trade and possible solutions to promote seamless flow of trade across the continent.

Speaking, Associate Programmes Officer, ITC, Mr. Richard Metoho, explained that as part of efforts to promote trade across the continent, the delegation is keen on identifying patterns which inhibit trade facilitation and address them by engaging relevant authorities within the continent.

He said: “The main objective of this meeting is to scale up trade facilitation that has been implemented in the ECOWAS region and in specific border crossing points. ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme is a programme that is projected to increase intra regional agricultural trade.” 

In his remark, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, thanked the delegation for their visit and assured them of the Council’s commitment to leveraging partnerships for progress.

He further stated that while existing alliances exist between the NSC and other Shippers’ Council across the continent, a key component for assessing the success of trade facilitation is the stakeholders’ experience. He therefore urged the delegation to look towards stakeholders’ enlightenment and engagement as a veritable tool towards achieving greater ease in trade.

He said: “In the current dispensation where Mr. President has created the Marine and Blue Economy with focus on developing non-oil export, this study will further strengthen our abilities and capacities in the border and informal trade.  Also, we need the stakeholders engagement at the highest level. We have the union of African Shippers’ Council. This is a matter of partnership between our country and other neighbouring countries with whom we engage in trade.”