Three years after the nation's port terminals were leased out to private concerns under the then Ports Reform Programme by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the bill for the Act that would give legal backings to the deal is just being considered by the National Assembly.
Sponsored by three members of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ka'ba Gora, the bill is seeking an amendment to the 1999 Port Act to accommodate the establishment of Port and Harbours Authority (PHA), to allow public and private participation in port operations besides encouraging the emergence of effective technical regulator for the port system.
Like the present Nigerian Ports Authority, the proposed Port and Harbours Authority, according to the provision of the bill, would provide pilotage services and lights, marks and other Navigational services and aids including cleaning, deepening and improving of all waterway, besides removing of wrecks and other obstructions within the ports harbours and their approaches.
The proposed PHA as contained in the bill before the House of Representatives, if passed into law, would provide facilities for berthing, towing, mooring or dry docking of ships, loading and unloading of goods, embarking and disembarking of passengers from ships at ports.
Besides, the bill seeks to empower the proposed port and harbour authority to provide facilities for warehousing, handling and sorting of goods. It would also encourage and facilitate private sector investments and participation in the provisions of ports services and facilities.
source: The Guardian