Empower ICRC, Customs Agents Urge FG

The Federal Government has been urged to empower the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to regulate port operations.

Mr. Lucky Amiwero, President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, made the suggestion on Friday in Lagos.

Amiwero told newsmen that Section 20 (a) of Act 18 of 2005 which established the commission empowered it to take charge of every concession agreement.

The Tide source reports that Nigerian ports were concessioned to 26 terminal operators in 2006 without a regulator.

Amiwero said that the section also gave the commission the powers to ensure efficient execution of any concession agreement or contract entered into by government.

According to him, with such a commission in place, there is no need for a new independent regulator for the ports, as being proposed by some stakeholders.

He said, “the commission is mandated by law to take over every concession in the country, seaports inclusive.”

Asked about what would become Port and Harbour (Amendment) and the National Transport Commission (NTC) bills before the National Assembly, Amiwero said, “it is left for the legislators to decide.”

Amiwero explained that the Port and Harbour and NTC bills were in direct conflict with the Act that established the Commission.

He also advised the government to abolish the 7 per cent port reconstruction levy, adding that the concessionaries were already developing the terminals on their own.

The clearing agent faulted the composition of the Ministerial Task Force on Port Charges and Efficiency because the Federal Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were not represented.

The Taskforce, which had since submitted its report to the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, in Abuja had been commended by most port stakeholders.