NIGERIAN SHIPPERS' COUNCIL [STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE]

INTRODUCTION

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council 

shall be applicable to all providers of Regulated Services operating at the 

Nigerian Ports regardless of their status, job category, experience, years of 

service or existing level of skills. It also sets out the general and basic 

requirements expected of all Operators in the Ports Sector in Nigeria.

The SOP takes into consideration the mandate as enshrined in the NSC Act

of 1978 for the protection of Nigerian Cargo Interests and reduction of 

transport costs with improved efficiency, and its responsibility as the 

Economic Regulator for the Nigerian Ports to ensure Fair Trade Practices.

Nigerian Shippers’ Council was established in 1978 with guidance provided 

by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for 

Developing Countries and developed market – economy countries for 

obtaining the most efficient and economical shipping services, since 

shipping services have critical effect upon the flow of trade.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council was set up to protect the shipment of 

Nigerian Foreign Trade and to combat inefficient and uneconomic 

operations, where costs of shipment continue to rise. This move should 

ensure that Nigerian products remain competitive in the international 

market by ensuring that shipment of goods into and out of Nigeria is 

carried out under the most efficient, reliable and safe manner favourable to 

all users in Nigerian ports, while noting that problems relating to Shipping 

Services are inseparable from problems relating to Ports.

Hence, the mandate of Nigerian Shippers’ Council covers all modes of 

transportation of goods, sea, air, land and pipe line.

In addition, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria, has appointed the NSC as the Economic Regulator for the 

Nigerian Ports, to curb the excesses of shipping and related services 

providers at the Nigerian Ports.