Stakeholders in the nation's port industry Wednesday in Lagos agreed to set up a private sector led regulatory body for the industry, stressing the need for the proposal to be captured in the Port Industry Bill presently before the National Assembly

Rising from a one-day meeting which was held in Lagos, they said the proposed regulatory body will be known as National Independent Port Commission (NIPC)

They further said that the on-going reform of the nation's port system has seen the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) assuming the position of a landlord, with the concessioning of the terminals to private operators on various lease agreements, saying that the development has thrown up the up the crucial issue of a regulator for the system.

Consequently, an 11-member Technical Committee was named and given a two-week timeframe, within which to streamline the agreement for presentation to the National Assembly.

Members of the committee include: Mr. Val Usifo, Chairman, Port Industry Anti-Corruption Standing Committee (PIASC); Captain Olugbemiga Abidoye, Managing Director, Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL); Captain Emmanuel Omotayo, Managing Director, Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL). Mrs. Omowunmi, Oshibo, General Manager , Headquarters Annex, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC); and Mr. Ernest Woka, Deputy Managing Director, Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited (CDIL).

Others are: Mr. Bolaji Akinola, Chief Executive Officer, Ships and Ports Communication Company Limited; Dr. Alex Okwuashi; Captain Solomon Omotesho, Coordinator, African Maritime Events Limited; Mr. Steen Hardsbjerg, Managing Director, Maersk Container Inland Services; Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike, Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN); and Mr. Emeka Akabogu, chief executive officer, Admiralty Resource Services.

The meeting, chaired by Dr. Waheed Kareem, chairman Port Consultative Council (PCC), was attended by several stakeholders cutting across various interest groups in the port system including terminal operators, ICD operators, government agencies, freight forwarders (including the Chairman of CRFFN, Mr. Anthony Iju-Nwabunike), shipping companies, service providers, importers, legal practitioners and several others.

It was organised by Ships & Ports Communication Company in conjunction with Golden Edge Consults.