Port Area Development Commission bill aims to manage the ecological menace to operations of ports and related matters
By Anthony Musa, Abuja
The House of Representatives will on resumption from the Christmas break consider a bill that will prompt the federal government to establish a commission that will solely be responsible for the development of areas in the country where port operations are taking place.
The bill sponsored by Rep. Mufutau Egberongbe (APC, Lagos) entitled “An act to establish the Port Area Development Commission charged with the responsibility to manage the ecological menace to operations of ports and related matters,” has already gone through first reading in the House.
According to the proposed law, the Chairman and other members of the Board are to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, in consultation with the House of Representatives.
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Cross River, Delta, Lagos and Rivers state are to be represented on the board in addition to three other persons to represent non-port Area commission States as well as representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Water Resources, Environment, Nigeria Port Authority, a Managing Director and six Executive Directors.
According to the bill, the commission is to be funded from 30 per cent of the total revenue generated by any company or authority operating in ports located in member states of the commission and 50 per cent of money due to member states of the Commission from the Ecological Funds.
It is also to draw its funds from all money raised for the purpose of the functions of the Commission by way of gifts loans, grants-in-aid, testamentary disposition or otherwise; and proceeds from all other assets that may, from time to time, accrue to the Commission.
The bill also said the Federal Government will be expected to contribute 40 per cent of the commission’s fund through appropriations by the National Assembly.
The commission Is expected to formulate policies and guidelines for the development of Port Areas; conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with set rules, projects and programmes for the development of Port Area and carry out a survey of Port Areas in order to ascertain measures which are necessary to promote its physical development.
They are also expected to implement all measures approved for the development of Port Areas by the Federal Government; identify factors inhibiting the development of and assist Stales in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of the resources of the Port Areas.
In addition, the commission will also tackle ecological problems that arise from the overloading of dams in the Port Areas and advise Federal and State Governments on the prevention and control of floods and environmental hazards and execute such other work and perform such other functions which, in the opinion of the Commission, are required for the development of the Port Areas and their people.
