Follow Us on Google
From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has called for far-reaching reforms in the maritime sector.
The minister opined that for government to make the country more competitive in the sector, which he said has a major role to play in the diversification of the economy, government must reduce its involvement in the ownership and day-to-day running of ports and harbours.
The minister noted the importance of outstanding transport sector reform bills being considered at the public hearing held at the instance of the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways.
Amaechi, who was represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sabiu Zakari, further stated the need to create an enabling environment for private sector to operate in the maritime sector.
“It is common knowledge that governments all over the world have realised that they are not best suited in ownership and management of businesses and as such considered it imperative to shift from purely government ownership and management of businesses to public private partnership (PPP) arrangement. The reforms, therefore, are intended to guarantee efficiency, sustainability, competitiveness and profitability.
“In addition, it is imperative to intimate this committee that full government ownership and management of these agencies had inherent restrictions for third party capital funding, undue government interference, burdensome bureaucratic structures and over listed workforce, amongst others.”
Declaring public hearing open, Speaker Yakubu Dogara noted that the eight maritime industry bills, when passed will address issues that have impeded on the sector becoming a major source of foreign exchange which the country is in dire need of.
“These Bills are indeed very important and more so now that we as a country are rethinking our economic master plan with the aim of avoiding a future relapse into the kind of nail biting recession which we have just exited from by identifying and strengthening other sources of government revenue.
“The Maritime sector is one such key source of huge revenue especially of the much needed foreign exchange, whose potentials have, unfortunately, been grossly under realised.
“This explains the importance which the present Assembly attaches to Maritime Sector reform Bills, 8 of which this committee is presenting to the public for scrutiny and input today. It is evident that the determination of this House to re-engineer and reposition this sector for optimum performance is not in doubt”, Dogara said.
