Contrary to the popular opinion, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC, has come out to say that it has legal backing to of the law to carry out the economic regulatory role of the Nigerian Maritime industry as recently bestowed on it by the federal government.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime Expo, NIMAREX 2014 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday, the Executive Secretary, NIGERIAN Shippers’ Council, Barr. Hassn Bello disclosed that the establishing the council actually gave it a lot of economic regulatory powers arguing that that notwithstanding, there was nothing more than the pronouncement of the the President.
According to him, “we have a legal backing. If. You look at the law setting up the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, you see a lot of economic regulatory powers, certain regulations had emphasized that. So we have a legal backing and what could be more legal than the pronouncement of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
On what should be expected of the SHIPPERS’ Council now that it had been conferred with the role of an economic regulator of the industry, he explained that Nigerians should not expect anything different from the council’s role of moderating the inter-relationship between the stakeholders in the industry.
He observed that no new function was given to the council only that the federal government confirmed the council’s role adding that it was nothing strange nor anything outside the purview of the council’s duties.
Bello however said that the council was going to embark on consultations with all the Stakeholders even as he said that consultations and communications were the core ingredients of regulation.
” What we are appointed to do is to moderate the inter-relationship between all the Stakeholders in industry”, Bello said.
On the NIMAREX 2014, Bello described the event as the marriage between the Maritime industry and the Nigerian economy adding that, “hitherto, we talk about the Maritime industry in an abstract way, it must be able to relate to the economy and the economy means increase participation of the private sector”.
He maintained that for the sector to effectively develop, the private sector as the movers of the sector had to. Increase its participation and contributions to the sector through direct and indirect employment and the number of multiplier industries it. Generates in the sector.
He added that since transportation reflect the image of Nigeria, the Stakeholders as well as the government should start building infrastructures that are modern and are in line with the international standards arguing that only that c, align Nigeria’s economy to the international economy.
