Nigerian ship chandlers on Friday
appealed to the Federal Government to enforce the patronage of local chandlers
by vessels coming into the Nigerian ports.
appealed to the Federal Government to enforce the patronage of local chandlers
by vessels coming into the Nigerian ports.
The Chairman of the Board of
Trustees (BOT), Nigerian Ship Chandlers Association, Chief Joe Akerele, made
the plea in an interview in Lagos.
Trustees (BOT), Nigerian Ship Chandlers Association, Chief Joe Akerele, made
the plea in an interview in Lagos.
A ship chandler is a merchant who
deals in supplies for ships, including everything from cruise ships to oil
tankers
deals in supplies for ships, including everything from cruise ships to oil
tankers
According to Akerele, Nigerian
ship chandlers are looking forward to a legislation that will ensure that
vessels that come into the nation’s ports take their orders for stores and
provisions from the local chandlers.
ship chandlers are looking forward to a legislation that will ensure that
vessels that come into the nation’s ports take their orders for stores and
provisions from the local chandlers.
“We want to collaborate with all
maritime organisations and government agencies for good working relations.
maritime organisations and government agencies for good working relations.
“Nigerian ship chandlers should
be patronised by off-shore maritime operators instead of foreign chandlers,’’
the chairman said.
be patronised by off-shore maritime operators instead of foreign chandlers,’’
the chairman said.
He also suggested that port
concessionaires should collaborate with the ship chandlers.
concessionaires should collaborate with the ship chandlers.
Akerele noted that areas of
friction between the chandlers, port concessionaires and other government
agencies should be minimised.
friction between the chandlers, port concessionaires and other government
agencies should be minimised.
Over the years, Nigerian ship
chandlers had expressed disaffection with the patronage of touts by foreign
vessels coming into the Nigerian ports.
chandlers had expressed disaffection with the patronage of touts by foreign
vessels coming into the Nigerian ports.
Local chandlers, in the past, had
also frowned at the indiscriminate issuance of licences by the Nigeria Customs
Service (NCS) to non-professional chandlers.
also frowned at the indiscriminate issuance of licences by the Nigeria Customs
Service (NCS) to non-professional chandlers.
