By Ashemiriogwa Emmanuel
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has expressed determination to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in improving the situation of the quality of articulated trucks used in the maritime sector as it goes in line with the goals of the FRSC.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Mr Emmanuel Jime, stated this while welcoming top officials of the FRSC led by the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
Expressing gratitude over the courtesy visit, Mr Jime said, “Today is another amazing day to me, as I am delighted and feel honoured to welcome the Corp Marshal/CEO of the FRSC to the NSC.
“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,” he said.
He said that, “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.
“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.”
Mr Jime, thereafter, noted that the joint effort of the NSC and FRSC have seen good progress as it has led to the development and operations of critical transport infrastructure, especially the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) and Vehicle Transit Areas (VTAs).
In his contribution, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, harped on the persisting breakdown of trucks on ports access roads and the need to address the resulting congestion on those roads.
According to him, “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.”
He further said that his agency is in support of the development of NSC’s transport infrastructure projects, particularly the Inland Dry Ports and Trucks Transit Parks, Sensitization/ Enlightenment programmes.
