31 October 2014, Abuja – As the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) continues consultation on its new role as a regulator of the maritime industry, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has thrown its weight behind the council.
The Director General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki expressed the support of the bureau when the Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello visited him in his office in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the BPE’s Head of Public Communications, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, the bureau would support NSC in its assignment as economic regulator of seaports in the country.
Anichebe quoted Dikki as saying that BPE believed that one of the major challenges in the ports reform was the absence of a regulator for the sector, adding that the bureau had advocated for interim regulator pending the passage of the Ports and Harbour Bill.
According to the statement, Dikki expressed hope that the seven bills on economic reform which are before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would be approved and forwarded to the National Assembly for enactment into law.
The bureau charged the council to take necessary measures to improve efficiency at the ports in order to attract increased shipping traffic from neighbouring ports.
The statement also quoted Bello to have disclosed that the council had begun the process of developing modern and efficient procedures to make Nigeria’s ports competitive.
Bello promised that the NSC as the ports’ economic regulator, would promote equity of access to port facilities and services.
“The council promised to exercise economic regulation of the ports system in line with government strategic objectives to promote fair trading practices and support the development of the ports,” the statement said.
– This Day
