The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola has affirmed that the new Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, when passed into law, will enthrone regulatory framework in the Nigerian maritime industry.
The Minister stated this on Monday in Abuja, at the Public Hearing on the repeal of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Act.
Oyetola noted that the bill when passed into law will curb arbitrary charges and other illegality from operators in the nations maritime industry.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olorunola Olufemi stated that, “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 explained that concerns raised by some stakeholders will be looked into and considered.
“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. Some concerns raised by stakeholders 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 which was witnessed by the main Sponsor of the Bill, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass (represented by Hon. Sada Soli) had in attendance stakeholders from the shipping, freight-forwarding, legal, among other sub-sets of the maritime industry.
Also present was the former Managing Director of the NSC and NPA, Chief Adebayo Sarunmi and a former Executive Secretary of the NSC, Barrister Hassan Bello.
