Shippers’ Council to deploy electronic gadgets for efficient cargo handling

. Kaduna dryport set for commissioning next month

TO ease the process of cargo handling in and outside the ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), has unveiled plans to deploy new electronic gadgets and facilities that would enhance cargo clearance and haulage across the country.

The Executive Secretary/chief Executive Officer, NSC, Hassan Bello, in chat with The Guardian, said by next year the electronic gadgets such as the cargo manifest system, and other technologies would come into play to enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“We hope by next year, the cargo manifest would have been transmitted electronically. We are going to introduce the advanced cargo information system and we are working with the minister of transportation to make sure that this happens. Once we do that, we will ease a lot of things. The cargo manifest will come, there will be standard operating procedure, there will be infusion of technology at the ports, and there will be regularisation of customs procedures. So, the ease of doing business at the ports will manifest tremendously, together with the cost of doing business,” he said.

Bello also revealed that the Kaduna Inland Container Dryport (ICD) is set for commissioning by December, while other ICDS are at various stages of completion.

“We are also going to talk about Inland Dry Port so that we will have more investments coming. We have started the Kaduna Inland Dry Port. It’s operational now. Train has taken goods there, but there is also one road that is being perfected. The gates are electronic, modern way of doing business and it’s going to be commissioned, I think, in December.

“In Jos, it is going on. The last time I checked, it was 65 per cent completed. But the main problem we are facing is rail siting into the high sea. So, the Minister of Transportation has called a meeting with General Electric, Shippers’ Council, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation so that we’ll see what could be done to have rails.

“For every project we are handling we first consider what will be the effect on the economy, how many people will be employed there and that is very significant,” he said.