The House of Representatives committee on marine transport has finally laid the contentious Maritime Security Agency bill before the House, paving way for high level politicking among interests groups to either ensure that the bill dies or survives.
Shipping Position Weekly confirmed last week that the Bill is the last of the four maritime sector –related bills that would go before the lower legislature.
Confirming the development to our correspondent last week, chairman, House committee on marine transport, Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stated that the bill was the last of the four to be tabled at plenary; the other three having been tabled about one month ago.
Ugwuanyi however disclosed that none of the three bills that were sent earlier have been considered, attributing the development to the plethora of national issues that have been coming up in the last few weeks.
Apart from this, he also disclosed that there are other bills from other committees that are also awaiting consideration and possible passage and that maritime sector stakeholders can only wait.
Apart from the MSA bill, the committee had earlier laid the Ports and Harbours Authourity, Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria and the Maritime Zone bills before the House.
Our correspondent learnt last week that the unexpected removal of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Sarki Mukhtar (Rtd) may have dealt a fatal blow on the proponents of the MSA bill.
The MSA bill which is an executive bill originated from the office of the NSA and it seeks to establish a parallel maritime security outfit to take over some of the statutory functions of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The bill was first read in the House late last year, after which it was subjected to second reading on December 17, after which it was referred to the marine transport committee which in turn held a public hearing on the bill on January 12, 2010.
But Honourable Ugwuanyi told Shipping Position Weekly that just like the three bills that were earlier sent to the House for consideration, the MSA bill is also a representation of the wishes of stakeholders.
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