After several months of anticipation, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has finally granted approval to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to become the commercial regulator of all port-related businesses.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed late last week that, the request had been on the agenda of FEC for a while, after the Minister of Transport; Senator Idris Umar reportedly effectively defended the proposal.
By the approval, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council now has the powers to determine and regulate all port charges and fees, as well as superintend activities of users and suppliers of port services.
Our source hinted that, prior to the approval; the FEC had two options, which were: to continue to wait for the National Assembly to pass the Port and Harbour Bill or grant the prayers of the Minister for the Shippers Council to assume the responsibilities of the commercial port regulator.Shipping Position Daily confirmed late last week that, the request had been on the agenda of FEC for a while, after the Minister of Transport; Senator Idris Umar reportedly effectively defended the proposal.
By the approval, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council now has the powers to determine and regulate all port charges and fees, as well as superintend activities of users and suppliers of port services.
Although details of the approval were still very sketchy as at press time, the Executive Secretary of Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello confirmed the good news to Shipping Position Daily via the telephone.
The development was also confirmed by the Coordinator; Maritime Advocacy and Action Group; Alhaji Alhassan Dantata who expressed happiness that the Federal Government “has finally granted the prayers of maritime industry stakeholders”.
He told Shipping Position Daily last Friday that his group is happy about the development. “MAAG and its component bodies have been collaborating with the Shippers Council to actualize the need to have a commercial regulator”, he stated.
“Virtually all stakeholders in the industry have queued behind Shippers Council , because it is the most economically viable option and the most industry-domiciled choice that will equitably arbitrate among all of us”, he added.
He stressed that the Shippers Council’s new power will go a long way to check the excesses of most of the service providers operating in the Nigeria maritime sector.
Dantata also said that the new status which empowers Shippers’ Council to determine and regulate all fees at the ports, henceforth makes it almost totally impossible for defaulters in the maritime sector to carry on their business activities without check.
The deputy director, public relations, Nigeria Shippers Council; Mr. Ignatius Nweke, who also confirmed the development assured members of the shipping community that the Council is well-equipped and well prepared for the new responsibility.
http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/last-fg-confirms-shippers%E2%80%99-council-commercial-regulator-ports
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