Port Regulatory Agency Bill Will Enhance Efficiency, Boost Export- NSC Boss

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah has disclosed that the Bill on Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency currently awaiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assent will enhance efficiency at the ports thereby boosting the country’s export.

Speaking on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms (TUGAR), Akutah said “the NSC over the years has been battling with the issue of legal regime that guarantees It’s capacity to act as a proper regulator in the sector.

“The Minister has taken a step forward, and the Bill that was taken to National Assembly for the enactment of Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency has passed the two Chambers of the National Assembly.

“At the moment, the Bill awaits the assent of Mr. President. In that Bill, enforcement issues are critically dealt with”.

He said “we believe that the major function of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) as a Steering Committee was to look at issues around enforcement of the manual as it relates to all Agencies within the port sector as well as the private sector.

“With the new Bill coming on board, and the New Agency with all the enforcement power in the law, it will further enhance the quality of work of the Committee”.

Akutah explained that law enforcement Agencies “who have over time work with us in the PSTT will need to be commended for the work that they have done.

“We call on them to re-energize the Committee by appointing sufficient members of the team to join us in this work because one of the things will consider at the management level at the NSC is the enforcement mechanism”.

The ES stated that the core mandate of TUGAR which is Inter-Agency collaboration and removal of rivalry between Agencies of government at the ports.

“I want to encourage you to continue to do that because, the processes of law making that create Agencies is not clearly defined, I hear people talking about mandates overlaps, there are no Agencies of government that has clear cut mandate that does not dive into the other because it is a puzzle.

“We are working together, supporting and complementing each other to be able to achieve the mandates of everyone of us”.

He called on Head of Agencies to understand that for “us to support Mr. President which right now the focus is to build our economy through the non oil sector, we must work together”.

While briefing the ES, Head Technical Unit of TUGAR, Jane Onwumere, commended the Council for synergy in partnership which has improved the efficiency of the country’s port operations.

The Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) is a group that works to ensure compliance with the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) and to promote integrity in the maritime sector.

Olusola Akintonde