Posted by Chinedum Emeana on
Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, managing director and chief executive officer, Redstar Express has urged the federal government to optimise.....
Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, managing director and chief executive officer, Redstar Express has urged the federal government to optimise opportunities in courier sector in order to become a viable participant in the global economy.
He added that the country need to also improve the business climate it offers for foreign investment and trade as this will improve services as well as meet increasing trade opportunities.
Speaking at the airfreight stakeholders seminar in Abuja recently, Orolugbagbe highlighted the challenges that had been stunting the growth of the courier sector as inconsistent government policies, infrastructure deficiencies, developing payment system, extensive prohibition of import items and poor import and export information on rights, obligations, privileges, concessions.
Orolugbagbe said government should channel more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the manufacturing sector to facilitate industrial diversification, provide efficient institutions that would ensure a predictable legal regulatory environment. He added that trade concessions would also encourage more exports of non-mineral commodities and help infant industries to grow.
He said services of the express delivery sector should be better, faster, secured and competitive as markets are opening up with increasing rapidity and opportunities. "Markets all over the world are opening up with increasing rapidity. Express delivery companies should expand to provide linkages among the various markets. The industry needs additional expertise in customs expertise, regulatory and enforcement skills, and enhanced security to meet increasing trade opportunities," he explained.
Meanwhile, Captain Adamu Biu, executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has said stakeholders in the airfreight sector are excited because the industry is becoming vibrant around the world, including developing economies like Nigeria. He said the developments in the sector could not be ignored.
He said this recently at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Shippers Council in Abuja for stakeholders in the airfreight sector.
Biu explained that the Council's involvement in the airfreight sector was because the organisation is the agency statutorily mandated in Nigeria to defend, protect and enlighten the public on the interest of all importers and exporters.
He added that the Council is responsible for ensuring that shipment of goods to and from Nigeria is done under the most reliable, safe and cost effective conditions.
"The World Bank Cotonou Round Table Report of 1997 also recommended that Shippers Councils in the West and Central African should protect their shippers' interest through out the entire transport chain."
He explained that it is to fulfil this mandate that the Council initiated the formation of the Airfreight Stakeholders Forum (ASF) in September 2004 to serve as an arbitrator in conflicts arising in the course of doing business between the airfreight agencies and other interest groups in that sector.