The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has highlighted, that more than 400 trade obstacles have been reported, through the Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism (TOAM) along the trade corridor, adding that the Council has addressed over 49%of it.

The Executive Secretary of the Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime said that various studies conducted along the borders of West African nations, had persistently highlighted the bottlenecks faced by traders, particularly in border crossings and Customs clearance processes.

The Executive Secretary who was speaking during a Sensitisation Workshop held in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission on the awareness for the creation of professional organisations and stakeholders in trade, at the Council Headquarters observed that the trade barriers, which were so many, comprised lengthy clearing terms, transit checkpoints with unwarranted delays, harassment, exorbitant illegal fees, and demands for bribes, with far-reaching consequences.

Jime noted that the barriers, not only disrupt the seamless flow of goods but also pose a direct threat to regional integration endeavours. He however, explained that more than 49 percent of them had been effectively addressed by national focal point representatives, supported by advisory services from the International Trade Centre (ITC).

He said: “In addition, the NSC’s Complaints Unit (CU) stands as a testament to our tireless efforts in resolving shipping-related issues. We understand that disputes and challenges can during trade transactions. Hence, we have dedicated resources and expertise to swiftly address these issues, ensuring that businesses can continue operations with minimal disruptions.

“Our commitment to fostering collaboration and harmonization among various stakeholders in the trade ecosystem is unwavering. We actively engage with other agencies, both within Nigeria and across West Africa, to align our efforts in promoting trade facilitation.