Expert canvasses national port policy for efficient service

By Godfrey Bivbere & Precious Duru

A TRANSPORT and business development consultant, Lanre Badmus, has called on the Federal Government to develop a National Port Policy, NPP, which will support the liberalisation of port services, improve port operations and make the system competitive.

In an interview with Vanguard, Badmus said that the present port system is responsible for the uncompetitive nature of port operations in the country. He also called for necessary legislation by the National Assembly for the proposed NPP.

Badmus noted that with the NPP, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should not be under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Transportion but should be able to go into any investment without going through the parliament like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He further pointed out that each port should be like an autonomous company with its own management team and the NPA should only supervise.

“As a government working to transform the economy, the Buhari led administration should consider and produce a new national port policy that supports the liberalization of port services, corporatization and joint ventures, and a highly competitive port system. The Presidency should thereafter engage the National Assembly for the national port policy to be covered by legislation.”

With the coming onboard of a National Transport Commission, NPA would have to be divested of its pseudo- regulatory powers and left to act as a landlord/operator,” he stated

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