Date: 2015-06-26

The Nigerian Shippers' Council,Ilorin Area Office has urged the state Government to to establish Container Freight Station(CFS) in the state to support the Inland Container Depot(ICD) in Ibadan,Oyo State.

The President of Kwara State Shippers,Alhaji Abdulkadir Alanamu who made this request on Thursday in Ilorin during one day Seminar titled "Ports Regulation:A Stimulus To Effective Import-Export Business in the Hinterland", organised by the Council,Ilorin Office noted that the establishment of the Station would decongest the Port.

Alanamu recalled that about three years ago,the establishment of Cargo by the State Government had ease export and import in the state which has really helped shippers that are transacting business within Northern and Western regions on the Country.

"If the Container Freight Station is establish in Ilorin,it would create job opportunities to thousands of our unemployed youths,improves the economic activities in the state,permit easier exportation,importation of semi-finished or finished products and reduces stress in tariff".

He added that the Council had discussed the issue with Industrialists,government officers and the like minds on the need to ascertain realisation of the Freight stressing that with the highest number of Exporters and Importers in the state,the Container Freight Station in state is inevitable.

In his remark,the State Chairman of KWACCIMA,Dr Hezekiel Adedeji who is also the Chairman of the Seminar suggested that the if Nigerian economy would grow like that of China,governments and Business Association should allow all Nigerians irrespective of their economic status to contribute to the development of the sector.

He noted that before China reached advanced economy,both rich and poor citizens participated in the round table discussion and their views were utilised which make the Asian country economy best in the world.

While speaking on "understanding groupage shipments and its benefits for beginners in export and import business",the President, Kogi Chamber of Commerce, Industry,Mines and Agriculture, Dr John O. Alabi suggested that if Nigeria Shippers want to excel on their field,they should collaborate with their foreign associations and export,import their goods through them.

He said: "the bane of Nigerian businessmen's endeavours had been mismanagement,dishonest,cutting-corners,sharp practices and the like. Such behaviours does not augur well for business development and they are inimical to international trade".