In late 2018, the president declined to assent to the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill (which the Senate had passed in March 2018). The president cited the need to review certain fiscal provisions set out in the bill, as well as concerns over the duplication of functions which already fell within the statutory mandates of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
On 23 January 2019 the Senate passed the Conference Committee Report of the NTC Bill and formally reapproved the bill after having examined it in view of the president's observations.
The NTC Bill seeks to establish the National Transport Commission as an economic regulator of all activities undertaken in Nigeria's transport sector. The NTC, which is set to replace the Nigerian Shippers' Council, would operate as an independent regulator to promote multimodal transport and boost private sector participation in the provision of transport services. Among other things, the NTC would be responsible for:
- creating equitable access to transport services; and
- regulating the tariffs, rates and charges paid by transport service users.
It is hoped that the recently reapproved bill, which was first sponsored in 2008, will shortly receive presidential assent and finally become operational.
For further information on this topic please contact Emeka Akabogu at Akabogu & Associates by telephone (+234 704 329 3271) or email ([email protected]). The Akabogu & Associates website can be accessed at www.akabogulaw.com.
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