The Federal Government has unfolded plans to privatise the transport sector, including roads, airports, seaports and harbours in the country. Already, the government has initiated four bills to actualise the plan.
These include the National Transport Commission Bill (2014); the Nigeria Railway Bill (2014); the Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority Bill (2014) and the National Inland Waterways Authority Bill (2014).
Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, while briefing State House correspondents yesterday at the end ofthe Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting said government was making the move to open up the transport sector to for private investments. He said that government would remove the legal bottlenecks hampering private sector participation in transportand provision of infrastructure.
Maku explained that government could not continue to fund all the sectors of the economy, saying that the proper thing to do was to lead the way by deepening reforms in the transport sector and other sectors of the economy. The minister disclosed that the FEC had already set up a council committee headed by the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke (SAN) to implement the plan.
He said the committee would also include officials from the ministries of works, aviation, transport and relevant stakeholders in the transport sector. According to him, the committee is expected to get the four draft bills ready for FEC approval before being forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and passage to law.He stated that the passage of the bills would open up opportunities for Nigerians to enjoy increased and better road, rail, sea and air travel infrastructure.
The minister explained that the idea was to get the private sector into the construction, maintenance and ownership of seaports, harbours and airports across the country, with possible privatisation of existing facilities.
He stated that privatisation would encourage competition, productivity and efficiency in the transport sector.“For instance, well maintained private roads and terminals will be a big boost to easier public transportation while providing jobs for more Nigerians”, he said.
Maku assured that in the privatisation process, the interest of Nigerians would be protected to avoid exploitation, saying that the citizens had a lot to gain in job creation and business opportunities.
Credits: 247ureports
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