Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Hassan Bello

By FRANCIS EZEM

The Executive Secretary /Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, has lauded the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria ICAN  over its high standards, saying that members of the institute in the council’s employ have always exhibited a high sense of efficiency and professionalism.

Bello, who gave the commendation when the Executive Council of the institute paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos recently, disclosed that the council has not recorded any case of fraud or financial mismanagement in its accounts due to the high level of competence and transparency of members of staff of the council’s accounts and audit units, who are also members of ICAN.

According to him, the council would continue to partner the institute, especially in terms of recruiting competent accountants and auditors for the council, which is in line with the council’s policy of partnering other agencies and relevant organisations for mutual benefits and growth for all parties, which is in the overall interest of Nigeria’s economy.

He noted that such partnership had become necessary and urgent in order to continuously tap from the experience of the many reputable accountants trained by the institute to enhance more accurate accounting and audits of the council’s financial transactions.

The Executive Secretary, who was represented during the visit by the Director in charge of Inland Transport Services, Mr. Akin Makinde, also pledged continuous support for its accounts and audit members staff in the areas of local and foreign trainings and seminars with a view to further enhancing their efficiency and professionalism.

It was however gathered that the CEO has recently granted approval for six members of staff of the council to attend the 2018 International Accountants Conference in Australia in order to enable then keep them abreast of latest accounting ethics and procedures.

Bello also told the visiting team of ICAN that the core functions of the council include but not limited to the protection of shippers interest on matters relating to freight rates and charges.

“The council also initiates projects to support importers and is currently planning to construct Truck Transit Parks TTPs, while also constructing Inland Dry Ports IDPs, one of which had commenced operations in Kaduna. The Nigerian Shippers Council has also over the years been organising seminars on Admiralty Law for Nigerian Judges, as part of efforts to hasten procedures and adjudication on law of contract at seas.

“The reason for the council’s emergence as the Economic Regulator for the port industry was to provide a level playing field for all operators and to forestall imposition of arbitrary charges and in so doing, there have been successes and various court cases against the council but overall, Government’s objectives are being achieved”, he said.

The NSC-boss therefore urged members of ICAN to consider investing in some of this maritime infrastructure such as the TTPs and the IDPs to enhance the achievement of their objectives and in the interest of Nigeria’s economy, since such projects would create jobs.

Meanwhile, leader of the ICAN delegation, Dame Onome Aderemi, while speaking at the event, commended the level of professionalism exhibited by their members working in the council, one of whom, she said is Mrs. Blessing Osakwe – Ogo, who is the current chairman of the Lagos Mainland District Society of ICAN, as having proven to be a great manager of human and financial resources.

Aderemi, who represented the President of the Institute, Mr. Ismaila Zakari, said the visit was an eye opener to the institute, especially about the functions of the council, noting that Nigeria would record remarkable developments if most other agencies would emulate the council in terms of enthroning a regime of accountability and professionalism.

She therefore charged the management of the council not to be deterred in its efforts at enthroning international best practices in the country’s maritime industry to ensure that Nigeria emerges hub of international trade in the West and Central African sub- region.