Port Economic Regulatory bill will curb arbitrary charges in shipping industry- House Committee

The House Committee on Shipping Services and Related Matters has said that the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, when passed into law will curb arbitrary charges and other illegal practices by operators in the nation’s maritime industry.

The bill seeks to repeal the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act Cap N133 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), for the enactment of Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act

Speaking with newsmen after a Public Hearing on the repeal of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki explained that the Committee is still collating memoranda from stakeholders on the Bill before presenting the report before the House of Representatives for the Third Reading.

He emphasized that the era of impunity in the industry must come to an end, and that the Committee is committed to ensuring the implementation of the new law.

His words, “We are still collating memoranda. You know the next process is to present the report to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“The Public Hearing today showed that every stakeholder in the Nigerian maritime industry wants an economic regulator for the industry. The era of impunity has to stop.

“The stakeholders input were very useful and educative for us today.

“The Bill seeks to repeal a law which is preventing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council from enforcing a presidential directive concerning economic regulation of the ports. Nigeria’s maritime industry is over due for this, and we will see to its implementation.”

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olorunola Olufemi, expressed the Ministry’s willingness to partner with stakeholders to enthrone a regulatory framework for the industry.

He said the Ministry is currently collating its considerations on the Bill and will submit them accordingly.

“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is willing to partner with all stakeholders in the sector, especially the National Assembly, to enthrone regulatory framework for the Marine and Blue Economy industry.

“It is on this note that we are eager and very happy to be a part of the process that will reform the sector.

“The Ministry is in the process of collating it’s considerations on this Bill and submit accordingly. We will encourage all stakeholders to also contribute their quota towards the actualisation of this process for the interest of the nation.”

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Barrister Pius Akutah expressed gratitude to the Minister and stakeholders for their support.

He assured that concerns raised by stakeholders will be looked into and considered, and that the intention of the new law is to bring sanity to the sector and ensure its growth.

He said, “I am very impressed with the outcome of today’s Public Hearing. I am particularly grateful to my Minister, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola for his support.

“It is also one of the Key Performances Indicators that we signed with the Honourable Minister.

“On some concerns raised by some stakeholders, some of them are germaine and will be looked at going forward. We are not bringing in a law that will strangulate the sector. The intention is to bring sanity to the sector and to ensure that the sector is booming.”

The Public Hearing was well-attended by stakeholders from the shipping, freight-forwarding, legal, and other sectors of the Maritime industry, including the main Sponsor of the Bill, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass (represented by Hon. Sada Soli).

Also present were former Managing Director of the NSC and NPA, Adebayo Sarunmi, and former Executive Secretary of the NSC, Barrister Hassan Bello.