Transport Minister Allays Fears On Maritime Bills

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry Of Transport, Mr Nebolisa Emodi;
Minister Of Transport, Sen. Umar Idris And Gov. Babatunde Fashola Of Lagos
 At The 13th National Council On Transport In Lagos Yesterday.

Even as stakeholders have continued to  express apprehension about the delay in the passage of the various transport sector Bills currently before the National Assembly, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has assured that the Bills will soon be passed into law.
Umar gave the assurance during his keynote address at the 13th National Council on Transport (NCT) meeting held in Lagos yesterday.
The Minister assured that the National Council on Privatization (NCP) has approved and recommended four transport sector reform Bills to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) namely; The Ports and Harbour Bill, the Railway Bill, the National Transport Commission Bill, the National Inland Waterways Bill.
Umar said assured that the Attorney General of the Federation has already vetted the Bills and that they will be transmitted to the National Assembly upon approval by the FEC.
According him, the Ports and Harbour Bill and the National Inland Waterways Bill are designed to provide adequate framework for private sector participation and to promote efficiency based on the principles of accountability, competition, fairness and transparency.
Speaking further, he explained that the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill seeks to establish a commission that is designed to be a multi-modal sector and to provide an economic regulator for the transport sub-sector which includes the rail, road and maritime.
"It is expected to perform the role similar to the National Communications Commission (NCC) in the communication sector and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the electric power sector", he added.
"The railway Bill seeks to allow for states and local governments as well as private sector participation in the provisions and operations of railway infrastructure and services" he said.
However, good time awaits the Council of the Regulation of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN) as the cross cutting and the inter modal group of the National Council of Transport (NCT) has recommended to the Executive Council of NCT to consider and give due recognition to the professional qualification of CRFFN.
They also asked the Federal Government to encourage freight forwarders participation in the programme ,while CRFFN should do the needful to get relevant government agencies’ support.
These recommendations were part of the resolutions that were reached at the just concluded 13th edition of the council in Lagos Yesterday.
The group also recommended that the council should encourage government agencies to patronize indigenous freight forwarders and their participation in government projects.
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