Ports Bill To Reach NASS, Soon

Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ms Bolanke Onagoruwa, has said that the Port and Harbour Bill would soon be sent to the National Assembly.

Onagoruwa disclosed this during an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to her, the bill is right now receiving finishing touches at the Attorney General’s office before it is passed on to the Federal Executive Council and then to the national Assembly.

“The bill is to encourage private sector investment in the sector,” the director-general said. She said that there was the need for government to speed up all necessary Bills that had to do with the economy.”

She urged stakeholders in the maritime sector to generate ideas that would make the Nigerian maritime sector the hub in Africa.

Our correspondent reports that the Port and Harbour Bill is meant to provide legal framework for reforms in the maritime sector.

The bill, when passed, will provide commercial and technical regulations in the port system.

The Nigerian ports were concessioned in 2006 as a result of high port charges, long turn-around of cargoes and ships and high level of corruption.