The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Barrister Pius Akutah has expressed optimism that the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, would soon be passed by the Senate.
The assurance comes about five months after the House of Representatives passed the Bill, awaiting concurrence at the upper legislative chamber.
Speaking at a recent event to mark his one year in office, Akutah told a gathering of maritime industry stakeholders, that the much-expected Bill is expected to be passed into law in a matter of weeks.
He described the Bill as “one noble objective needed to bring about the efficiency of this sector that has eluded us over the years.”
“By the grace of God, I believe that in the coming weeks, the Senate will give its concurrence, and we will then await Mr. President’s assent. This bill is a major initiative that will reposition our sector for economic growth, job creation, and other sectoral achievements, he assured.
He also explained that securing the passage of the Bill and the mandatory assent by the President, are what is required to significantly energise the nation’s port system and engender a more friendly and globally-competitive maritime industry.
He added that when the Bill is passed into law, it will promote efficiency and streamline processes in the nation’s maritime sector, even as he stated that, the Council will have a strong legal backing to execute its regulatory activities in furtherance to enhance the marine and blue economy
Akutah also stated that relevant government agencies and stakeholders in the maritime industry are strongly supporting the bill.
In addition, Akutah stated that the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill will boost Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also pointed to logistics as a significant hurdle for Nigeria’s full participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has a collective GDP of $3.4 trillion. He emphasized the importance of improving connectivity and intermodal transport within the African region to facilitate seamless movement of goods.
“If Nigeria does not enhance connectivity, how will goods move within Africa?” he questioned, underscoring the need for an efficient intermodal system to support AfCFTA goals.
“The implementation of the AfCFTA, if we don’t act very fast, would be the issue of maritime logistics, because you will see that right now connectivity within the African region is a major challenge,” he said.
Justifying Federal Government’s interest in the Bill, the NSC boss told the stakeholders that the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill is an important component of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to rejuvenate the nation’s maritime industry and enable it to further contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He assured that the Senate is likely to pass the Bill in about two to three weeks, even as he told the stakeholders that, the Bill will foster a more stakeholder friendly maritime industry.
According to the NSC boss, the maritime industry as a whole will significantly benefit when the Bill scales all the hurdles, even as he expressed optimism that the President will assent to the Bill.
