The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has said that it would support the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in its assignment as economic regulator of the nation’s seaports.
Speaking when the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello and his Management team paid a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja, the Director-General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki assured of his agency’s support to the Council for it to achieve its mandate.
Dikki believed that one of the major challenges in the ports reform was the absence of a regulator for the sector, adding that the bureau had advocated for interim regulator pending the passage of the Ports and Harbour Bill.
He expressed hope that the seven bills on economic reform which are before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would be approved and forwarded to the National Assembly for enactment into law.
The BPE boss charged the council to take necessary measures to improve efficiency at the ports so as to attract increased shipping traffic from the neighbouring ports.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Barr. Hassan Bello disclosed that the council had begun the process of developing modern and efficient procedures to make Nigeria’s ports competitive.
Bello promised that the Shippers’ Council as the ports’ economic regulator would promote equity of access to port facilities and services.
“The council promised to exercise economic regulation of the ports system in line with government strategic objectives to promote fair trading practices and support the development of the ports,” he said.
