Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, Dr. Vicky Haastrup, her legal tangle with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council notwithstanding, has been chosen by the Certified Institute of Shipping, CIS, as President, governing council of the institute even as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is doggedly working at making Nigerian sea ports more attractive and business friendly to port users.

Delivering a paper titled “Nigerian Shippers’ Council and The Task Of Regulating The Nigerian Port Industry: Gains Challenges And Prospects”, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, who was represented by Mr. Nanbol Emmanuel Nanle, at the just concluded All Nigerian Maritime Journalists Retreat held at the Administrative Stall College of Nigeria, ASCON, Topo, Badagry, the Council lamented that “a major Litigations by Seaport Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies challenging the regulatory mandate and Notices of the Council in spite of expression of ‘Acceptance’ and pledge of ‘Cooperation’ and delay in Firming Up  its Regulatory Framework as issues affecting efficient regulatory role of the Council.

The contradiction in opposition of government (NSC) on the one hand and calling for laws to strengthen sea port operations on the other by Dr. Vicky Haastrup is seen by maritime stakeholders as a Janus way of achieving personal goals which remain obvious.

The council also bemoaned the attitude of some agencies of the federal government in the ports.

According to NSC, some of the service providers that were used to the laissez affaire mode of operation put up some resistance to the new order, uncooperative Attitude of Some Regulatory Agencies in the Port and some government agencies also viewed the appointment of the Council as an affront and therefore subtly engaged in measures to frustrate the activities of the Council.

The Council is of the view that “Proponents of deregulation in Nigeria failed to appreciate the non-competitive structure of transport industries and some of the deregulatory measures taken in the past actually accentuated these market characteristics.

The NSC noted during its presentation to participants at the Retreat convened by AMJON that port privatization without Economic Regulation resulted in high cost of doing business as a result of impunity and unjustifiable imposition of charges on port users by service providers.

Notwithstanding these challenges, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, as the nation’s Ports Economic Regulator declared that the Council is poised to address the current and future challenges in order to transform Nigerian sea ports to centers of international freight and Hub for the sub-region.

On her part, the new CIS President, Princess Dr. Vicky Haastrup averred that “The shipping industry is a very important avenue and sector for the regeneration of our economy at a time like this to diversify the economy”.

She added that “Nigeria is well positioned to serve as a hub port in the African sub region because of the competitive nature of the Nigerian ports”.

How competitive Nigerian ports are remains to be seen even as STOAN is locked in legal battles with the Nigerian shippers’ Council.