One bill that the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives are giving priority to at a time that Nigeria’s economy is in recession is the Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority (NPHA) bill.
The bill, which has passed its first and second reading, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for further legislative action.
Sponsored by Senator Andy Uba of Anambra South Senatorial District, the bill has as its central theme a way forward for an efficient and more profitable management of the Nigerian Maritime Space.
It is part of the bills the Senate hopes will get Nigeria out of the pangs of the current economic downturn, a reason such priority has been accorded to it by both arms of the National Assembly.
The bill comes as Senate Bill number 243 in the Senate and House Bill number 50 in the House of Representatives and it was first red on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, May 26, 2016 and presented for a second reading on Thursday, September 29.
When passed into law the bill will repeal the Nigerian Ports Authority Act CAP 126 LFN 2004 and see to the establishment of the Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority.
It will provide for an appropriate institutional framework for the ownership, management operation, development and control of Ports and Harbours and ensure the integrity, efficiency and safety of the ports based on accountability, competition, fairness and transparency and also encourage greater private sector participation in the Maritime Industry through investment in Infrastructures.
The bill seeks to promote and safeguard Nigeria’s competitiveness in trade objectives towards maximal profitability and stability , transform the maritime sector and promote both internal and international trade and create the adequate enabling environment for private sector operation.
The Ports Authority Bill will engender increased seaport capacity and productivity; reduced congestion at ship-to-shore interface; reduced city congestion; lower environmental impact; improved asset utilization for port, road and railway transport providers, improved transport productivity; intermodal capacity, and lower transport costs.
The Ports Authority Bill will engender increased seaport capacity and productivity; reduced congestion at ship-to-shore interface; reduced city congestion; lower environmental impact; improved asset utilization for port, road and railway transport providers, improved transport productivity; intermodal capacity, and lower transport costs.
The creation of the Ports and Harbours Authority by the will be a major driver for the economic recapitalization especially with the quest to transmute from a mono-sectoral economy to a multi-sectoral economy.
The Nigeria Ports and Harbours Authority Bill will have no new financial burden to the nation as operational structures are already in place.
With an eye on reflating the economy with such bill, it is hopped that the National Assembly would soon pass the bill into law for the assent of the President.
Channels Tv reported
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