The Union of African Shippers Council (UASC) has charged member states within the African sub-region to strategize to be able to fight against maritime piracy and insecurity in the region.
Mr. Giscard Lilian, the Secretary-General of the Union, made the call at a two Committee of Experts Meeting / Expanded Standing Committee Meeting and Mini-Sensitization Workshop on African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in Abuja.
According to him, Maritime insecurity is a question which is being discussed within the regional communities and even by member states.
He said it was however important to tackle it as it was hindering the smooth flow of trade in the economies of the sub region.
On trade, Lilian said that countries needed to industrialize and eliminate barriers to boost intra African trade.
”This is however one of the issues being addressed by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFT).
”What we will have to do as a union of African Shippers Council is that we need to accompany the AfCFT secretariat and other stakeholders in achieving an increased intra African trade.
`’This falls in line within the framework of the AfCTA, each member state needs to own the AfCTA, by designing a national strategy that responds to their specific need.
”Industrialization is a key aspect, eliminating non-tariff barriers, facilitating trade, these are some of the key issues that have to be addressed if you want to increase intra African trade.
On the global energy crisis, he said that it was not peculiar to Africa but affected the global shipping industry.
He however noted that most countries in the Central Africa were part of the producing countries of energy used by the industry.
He urged that the available energy resources be exported for the benefit of African countries in line with Africa’s maritime policies.
The UASC secretary-general commended the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Emmanuel Jime, for hosting the steering committee meeting.
He said: ”I wish to express my appreciation in regards to the organization of this event to address some of the problems we are facing as a union within the West and Central Africa sub region.
”It is an important meeting and I am satisfied to see that many delegations have made it to Abuja for this very important event to discuss issues linked to freight which is one of the highest in West and Central Africa across the world.
”This incident has led to shippers paying higher prices which had led to higher prices of goods in the market which is a key priority for our economies.” (NAN)
