The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is to resume the implementation of the newly reviewed 3% benchmark on freight by October 1, 2013.

This resolution is said to be in response to the rate of freight instability in the Nigeria industries.

However, the 3% benchmark on freight which is a statutory levy charged on the value of freight a shipping liner is carrying in or out of Nigeria ports, were earlier scheduled for implementation by September 1 but was shifted due to bureaucracy involved in getting all the administrative processes online.

Dabney Shall-Holma, Director, Commercial Shipping service of Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) who revealed the shift in the date, had at the sensitisation meeting with shipping companies and other stakeholders in Lagos on Tuesday stated that the NIMASA 3% statutory benchmark levy on freight was reviewed in 2012 to mediate over the high cost of doing business in Nigerian Ports.