The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of FMOT, Engr. Nebolisa Emordi, on Monday met with representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other agencies under the FMOT to galvanise support for the Nigerian Shippers Council under its new role as economic regulator of the nation’s seaports.
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY reported on Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan that the NSC assumed the role of ports economic regulator pending the passage of the National Transport Commission (NTC) bill.
Our usually reliable source informed that the government officials which included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Services, Leke Oyewole, met to brainstorm on how to support the Council in and enable it succeed in its new role.
The meeting is expected to continue next week to consider the work plan and modalities submitted by the council for the extension of the assignment.
Maritime Lawyer, Emeka Akabogu, informed SHIPS & PORTS DAILY on Monday that while he supports the appointment of the NSC as port regulator, the Council lacks statutory backing for the role and may not be able to apply sanctions. He said sanction was an essential ingredient of effective regulation.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.