Mr Olu Akinsoji, a former Sole Administrator, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom, has advised the Federal Government to appoint an independent body to regulate the maritime industry.
Akinsoji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that this would enhance operations in the maritime industry.
He said that for now, the terminals operators were operating without control.
Akinsoji said that because the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was the landlord that leased the terminals to the operators, there should be an independent regulator of operational activities at the ports.?
He suggested that the operational regulator should be an independent body.
“When it comes to cargo regulation, I think the regulator should be the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
“If it is operating within the port, the regulator should be an independent body,’’ NAN quotes Akinsoji as saying.
He said that the Shippers’ Council should regulate the cargoes coming in and going out of the ports.
Akinsoji, who is the former Government Inspector of Ships (GIS), said that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) should continue to be in charge of cabotage and shipping development.
According to him, the commercial areas have to be identified and the regulators should also be identified.
He advised government to make a law to regulate the activities at the ports and set up a regulatory body.