Shippers’ Council, NCDC collaborate to fight COVID-19, enlightens Maritime sector

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Shippers’ Council( NSC), has gone into partnership with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to work assiduously to contain spread of the dreaded coronavirus, in the maritime sector.

In a statement made available to Nation Update online,  by the Head, Public Relations Unit, NSC,  Rekiya Zubairu, on Wednesday, said the gesture was necessary because truckers, being essential workers, are some of the few people who are allowed to move across state lines as they deliver essential cargoes all around the country.

The sensitization which begins today 13th May, 2020, according to the  Council will afford the  Council opportunity to hand over hundreds of sanitizers and face masks to the leaders of seven trucking associations.

It said that having intervened on the need for the truckers to move around unhindered especially during the lockdown, it’s necessary to champion their course of protection.

”It may be recalled that NSC, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, had made an intervention for this category of persons to be allowed free movement as they convey goods from the ports to the length and breath of Nigeria and indeed beyond the borders of the country.

“Also, starting today, NSC will be making the rounds of terminals and shipping companies on a COVID-19 sensitization campaign.

“The NCDC has assigned one if it’s doctors to deliver a talk on COVID-19 at the various locations where freight forwarders and staff of these organisations will be present.

“The Port Health Services department of the Federal Ministry of Health will also be present at these sensitization events.

“Shippers’ Council, as the promoter of this sensitization campaign will give out face masks and sanitizers to all present at all the terminals and shipping companies,” the release said,