The much-celebrated approval that was granted to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to act as a commercial regulator is only for one year, so says the transport minister; Senator Idris Umar.
The Minister, through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engineer Nebolisa Emordi gave this clarification yesterday in Lagos at a breakfast meeting organised by the Nigeria Shippers’ Council as the economic regulator of the nation’s port system.
Engineer Nebolisa Emordi reiterated that the federal government is working assiduously to ensure that the transport bills are passed for the council to perform effectively.
He said that there were massive consultations from the coordinating minister of the economy, the vice president, the comptroller general of customs, which culminated in the approval of the council to act as interim commercial port regulator for a period of one year. "Government is mindful of the fact that it is processing the draft bill and I don't see any order way that it has given Shippers’ Council to become the economic regulator just because of the processing of the National Transport Commission bill and that is why we used the word interim has to come into play", he stated.
Emordi stated that the ministry has set up a committee to work out action plans for effective take-off of the new status of the Shippers’Council.
The permanent secretary disclosed that yesterday’s first meeting with the key stakeholders in the maritime sector was very important, adding that the new responsibilities given to the council is key to a cordial port operation.
According to him, the purpose of the role is in line with the fact that the bill is yet to be passed into law, he added that it is importance that bill follow due process.
"I want to re-emphasize that the approval of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council to act as an interim regulator of the port industry, was duly approved by the President after extensive consultations at the highest level of government"
The permanent secretary also called for more sensitisation because there will be stiffer opposition from the maritime stakeholders as a result of misunderstanding.
“Shippers council board and management need to work very hard on how to sensitize its stakeholders very well and there is also the need for more funding".
Speaking further, he added that the council most get additional funds from its present allocation and that as the council takes off its new interim role there is need to get more competent hands.
The Minister, through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engineer Nebolisa Emordi gave this clarification yesterday in Lagos at a breakfast meeting organised by the Nigeria Shippers’ Council as the economic regulator of the nation’s port system.
Engineer Nebolisa Emordi reiterated that the federal government is working assiduously to ensure that the transport bills are passed for the council to perform effectively.
He said that there were massive consultations from the coordinating minister of the economy, the vice president, the comptroller general of customs, which culminated in the approval of the council to act as interim commercial port regulator for a period of one year. "Government is mindful of the fact that it is processing the draft bill and I don't see any order way that it has given Shippers’ Council to become the economic regulator just because of the processing of the National Transport Commission bill and that is why we used the word interim has to come into play", he stated.
Emordi stated that the ministry has set up a committee to work out action plans for effective take-off of the new status of the Shippers’Council.
The permanent secretary disclosed that yesterday’s first meeting with the key stakeholders in the maritime sector was very important, adding that the new responsibilities given to the council is key to a cordial port operation.
According to him, the purpose of the role is in line with the fact that the bill is yet to be passed into law, he added that it is importance that bill follow due process.
"I want to re-emphasize that the approval of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council to act as an interim regulator of the port industry, was duly approved by the President after extensive consultations at the highest level of government"
The permanent secretary also called for more sensitisation because there will be stiffer opposition from the maritime stakeholders as a result of misunderstanding.
“Shippers council board and management need to work very hard on how to sensitize its stakeholders very well and there is also the need for more funding".
Speaking further, he added that the council most get additional funds from its present allocation and that as the council takes off its new interim role there is need to get more competent hands.
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