The Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) has called on stakeholders in the Maritime sector to support its Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023 into law.
Executive Secretary of the Council, Barrister Akutah Pius made the call at the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) 2024 annual conference and awards on Thursday in Lagos with the theme: "Nigeria's Maritime Industry Under the Renewed Hope Agenda: What is New?"
The bill, when it becomes law, he explained would enhance regulatory authority, enforce compliance, regulate charges, improve efficiency, eliminate exploitative practices, bring about fairer trade conditions and fast dispute resolution, amongst others.
According to him, the bill will also boost maritime competitiveness based on global best practices and position Nigeria as a regional hub for shipping.
Akutah, who was represented by the Director of Strategic Planning and Research, Rotimi Anifowose, while speaking on the topic, "Achieving a Profitable Port System: NSC Duty as Port Economic Regulator", said all hands must be on deck to see it actualised.
He said: "For a country that wants to have the renewed hope agenda placed placedigeria maritime industry, we must collectively emphasise the functionality and role of the port economic regulator.
"For us, the Council NSC boss noted, "We have Wen in the forefront of the promotion of the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023. and assured that" the bl, when passed into law, will empower the Council to effectively perform its regulatory function in the port sector. I can tell you that the bill, as of now, has been done concurrently by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
"We are calling on everybody to support us in making sure that the President assent to this bill to make it an act that will be very instrumental in the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda within the industry. We need everybody to join us ". Anifowose
" He stated, and I qu,ote, " There are so many things that we can fix, not because we cannot fix them, but because we need to put structures on the ground that will fix them. If you are talking about port efficiency, there is a need for regulatory functions to be addressed.
" If you are talking about effective trade facilitation, there is also a need for the port economic regulation to be addressed". Anifowose explained
Speaking on some of the recent achievements of the NCS, he said the Council had signed a formal bond with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in May 2024, facilitated the official commissioning of the Funtua Inland Dry Port, negotiated and facilitated the signing of the agreement on minimum standards of provision of service for maritime workers who were hitherto being treated like slaves.
He listed others to include the elimination of incidences of illegal capital flight and also the development of a mobile application that provides real-time trade, shipping and logistic information to industry stakeholders.
According to him, these efforts by the council committed to making sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda for the maritime sector is realised and for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the global market.
"If not 90 per cent, 85 per cent of the cargo in Lome Port are Nigeria bound. What we have is just in shipment. We need to put our hands on deck " he revered
"Mr Anifowose stated that the Cusoms are getting revenue from the government and can do more with the creation of a conducive environment that will improve and exporters have confidence in the ports.
"That's why we must all come together and support the Nigerian Shippers' Council drive to make this reform an act so that the effective port economic regulatory function can be attained". he stated
No comments:
Post a Comment