The National Assembly has passed the much-expected Ports and Harbour Bill, so says the Chairman of Senate committee on Marine Transport; Senator Ahmed Rufai Sanni.
Disclosing this at a meeting with maritime industry stakeholders in Lagos yesterday, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sanni said that the bill has been passed, but its awaiting conferencing.
He told the stakeholders who comprised of private and public sector players that the motive behind the meeting was to bring the parliament to the industry with a view to hearing from the players and also telling them what the 8th National Assembly has done to impact on the maritime industry.
Even though he did not give details of what ‘conferencing’ means, he nevertheless confirmed that both chambers of the National Assembly had passed the ports bill.
He also disclosed that Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act amendment Bill had been passed; he added that it is currently awaiting the President’s assent.
Senator Yerima also assured that the Bill on the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences 2018 will be passed before the end of the year.
He also listed other maritime industry bills that are either awaiting Presidential assent or undergoing legislative process to include the: National Inland Waterways Act, Nigeria Coast Guard Bill, United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Others are Maritime Security Administration and Safety Agency, Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill.
He also disclosed that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act Amendment Bill has been passed, and that it was returned by the President.
The Committee’s chairman also said the Senate will continue to collaborate with executive arm of the maritime regulatory agencies to grow the maritime industry.
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