Akutah said this during the 2024 Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists on Wednesday in Lagos.
The theme of the seminar is: “The Nigerian Shippers’ Council in Transition, Issues, Prospects and Challenges”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023 passed its second reading at the National Assembly on March 14.
The bill seeks to repeal the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act Cap N133 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) and establish the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, had earlier highlighted the significance of the bill as part of the government’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for 2024.
Oyetola noted that the NSC was designated as the interim port economic regulator in 2015, and the bill aims to solidify this role.
Speaking on the council’s evolution, Zubairu emphasised the NSC’s achievements since its establishment in 1978.
These include protecting shippers’ interests, promoting dry port development through private partnerships, and regulating tariffs, rates, and charges in the port sector.
He also outlined the council’s regulatory responsibilities, such as providing guidelines on tariffs, monitoring charges to prevent arbitrariness, and ensuring service delivery standards.
Zubairu stressed the need to strengthen the council’s structure to continue its functions effectively ahead of the bill’s enactment.
He assured stakeholders that the NSC would undergo necessary restructuring once the bill is passed.
Also speaking at the seminar, Dr Musa Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), advocated an effective regulatory framework to curb monopoly power in the industry.
He urged the Federal Government to invest in adequate cargo clearing infrastructure to prevent cargo diversion to neighbouring countries.
Yusuf also called on maritime media to enhance public awareness of port operations.
Earlier, Mr Olusesan Onilemo, Chief Executive Officer of Mediacom, publishers of Shipping Position and organisers of the seminar, lauded the NSC for its commitment to ensuring the bill’s success.
He noted that the seminar had become a platform for discussing critical issues in the maritime sector.
Onilemo described the bill as a potential game-changer for the Nigerian shipping and port industry, particularly in enhancing fairness, competition, and ease of doing business at the ports.
He expressed optimism that its eventual passage and signing into law would usher in transformative changes for service providers and users alike. (NAN)
