Mr. Shadrach Adegoke of AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Ikechi Uko the conference organiser, Mr. Segun Omosehin, the commissioner for insurance, Ms. Omowale Olatunde-Agbeja, Acting MD. Boff & Co. Insurance Brokers Ltd, Mr. Abedeen Musa, ED, NSIA Insurance Co. Ltd. And
Mr. Jimalex Orjiako, ED, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Co. Ltd.
The fourth CHINET Aviacargo Conference held on Thursday at the Mariot Hotel Ikeja, Lagos has blamed the continuous rejection of Nigerian cargoes in developed countries of the world like the United States of America and United Kingdom on the lackadaisical attitude of the exporters to the standard operating system to cargo export.
Hence, the exporters do not abide by the best practices required at every stage and aspect of cargo care through the intermodal supply.
The fourth CHINET Aviacargo Conference focusing on aviation, cargo business and insurance was themed: ‘e-Commerce and the Future of Air Cargo in Africa: The Building Blocks.’
Speakers argued that Nigeria was not ready and willing to play in the air cargo space, looking at how the air and water spaces have been left to foreign companies who have now become dictators in our own market, even when the country is blessed with the necessary raw materials to play in the global cargo market.
They posited that a more secure and reliable supply chain was needed to mark Nigeria’s position as a trusted partner in the global logistics ecosystem.
Managing Director, Pathfinders International Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso, in her submission listed the lack of proper packaging, documentation, incident reporting and secure transportation as some of the factors negatively impacting cargo export from Nigeria to other parts of the world.
In her paper entitled; ‘Steps to Guarantee Integrity of Cargo in Nigeria,’ Onyenso explained that cargo integrity entailed an untainted supply chain, in addition to conducting the entire business in a transparent and honest manner.
While stating that cargo integrity goes beyond simply making sure everything was delivered safely, on time and undamaged, she emphasised that packaging for instance, plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of cargo in Nigeria’s logistics and supply chain industry.
“Proper packaging protects against physical damage, prevents contamination, reduces theft and tampering, facilitates easy handling, ensures compliance with regulations, ensures proper documentation, mitigates environmental risks and builds trust and confidence in cargo,” the expert explained.
She further emphasised that by maintaining proper documentation, stakeholders could ensure the integrity of cargo throughout the supply chain, promote trust, efficiency, security and safety in the system.
Onyenso also brought out the place of effective reporting mechanism and implementation of secure transportation practices in ensuring integrity in Nigeria’s cargo industry.
She said: “By implementing effective incident reporting mechanisms, Nigeria’s cargo industry can identify and address vulnerabilities, improving the integrity and security of cargo throughout the supply chain.
“By implementing secure transportation practices, Nigeria’s cargo industry can ensure the integrity of goods during transit, building trust and confidence among stakeholders.”
Continuing, the Pathfinder’s boss said there was a need for a clear and well understood policy framework, transparent procedures, a high level of professionalism, an effective internal audit and a good security company in order to guarantee integrity of goods in Nigeria.
In her expert opinion, she said that cargo integrity was not just a matter of compliance, but a strategic imperative that could protect businesses from financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities.
“By prioritising security measures and staying vigilant, the Nigerian cargo industry can contribute to a more secure and reliable supply chain, marking their position as trusted partners in the global logistics ecosystem.
“The road to effective cargo integrity is a continuous journey, requiring dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence. By embracing best practices and staying ahead of emerging threats, the Nigerian cargo industry can navigate the complexities of international trade with confidence, ensuring the safe and secure movement of goods across borders,” Onyenso concluded.
Speaking from the insurance angle necessary to protect goods and services in the global aviacargo supply chain, the Commissioner for National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, opened his speech by correcting the misconception that the insurance companies in Nigeria lacked capacity to successfully insure aviation business, especially aircraft acquisition.
While saying that the insurance companies in the country had the capacity to insure all aspects of the aviation industry, including airlines, cargo, catering and others, he said the resort to re-insurance was in line with global best practices, where all underwriters had existing treaties with re-insurance companies.
He revealed That Nigeria has at least 29 aviation underwriters regulated by NAICOM in compliance with the regulations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), therefore, Omosehin assured operators in the aviation industry not to panic, that their risks were being insured in Nigeria.