We Will Work For Establishment Of A Maritime Bank - Reps

By Oritsegbemi Eghoro

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has assured stakeholders in the maritime industry that it will champion the process for the law backing the establishment of a maritime back.

Dasuki made this known in Lagos during a working visit to the Nigerian Shippers Council head office, also called for a meeting with shippers and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) in a bid to making shipping business less cumbersome.

According to Dasuki, "The Committee will look into the possibility of championing the maritime bank so that the maritime sector or the key players will have their own bank. 

"The whole idea is to stop the capital flight we have today in the sector. We look to have the support not just of the House of Representatives but of the national Assembly to make sure this is so. 

"Also, we are going to have the Shippers' together with your team to sit down and see how we can improve the services of the ship owners in Nigeria as soon as possible," he noted.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Pius Akutah said "The visit is happening around the time of my assumption of office. This partnership between the National Assembly and the Council is centered purely on shipping services committee of the House of Representatives.

"We believe that our close collaboration and corporation will see the rapid development of the sector and today that partnership has taken a very major and bold step. 

"We know that the impact that this visit will leave is for a very long time. This partnership has started a new trajectory and I believe it would move very fast," he noted.

 

 

 

 

that the new Shippers Council bill which has past the second reading at the lower chamber will be signed into law by June this year.

The Committee also promised that they are working on the establishment of a maritime bank to ease financial services of stakeholders in the maritime industry.

Giving the assurance in Lagos during a working visit to the Nigerian Shippers Council head office, Chairman of the Committee, Abdussamad Dasuki. said that a public hearing on the bill will soon be held before it will be sent to the upper chamber.

He disclosed that the Committee will work closely with the leadership of the House to assure that all the processes are done quickly so that the bill can be signed by President Bola Tinubu before the end of June.

According to him, "Any moment from now, we would be calling for a public hearing. There will be need for Shippers Council being a catalyst for our economy. Yes. The challenges have been highlighted and the expectations that are seen for this agency and other maritime related agencies I believe will be much better when that law is passed by ye national Assembly. 

"In the course of our deliberations, we have highlighted one of the successes that is expected from that bill which is the one per cent freight standardisation fund.