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Tag: NSC

  • NSC boosts School Sports Festival with N25m

    NSC boosts School Sports Festival with N25m

    •As Mark hosts 8,000 students in Otukpo

    The 7th National School Sports Festival slated for Otukpo and Markudi, Benue State on November 6th-16th, 2014 has been boosted with a grant sum of N25 million by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

    The President of the National School Sports Federation, Ibrahim Muhammad disclosed this to SportingLife in Abuja after briefing the press on this year’s edition of the Festival.

    “The National Sports Commission under the Chairmanship of the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo and ably assisted by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has been very supportive to the cause of the National School Sports Federation and has given us the sum of N25million to start planning for this year’s edition of the the Festival billed to take place in Otukpo and Markudi.

    “Although we need the sum of N100 million for the Festival we have been supported by the NSC with the sum of N25 million, so we still need the sum of N75 million to ensure we organise a good Festival,” Muhammad disclosed.

    Muhammad also revealed that the Senate President David Mark will be the chief host and Special Guest of Honour of the Festival, and that is the reason for staging the Festival in the Senate President’s home town. The National School Spoprts Federation boss also disclosed that about 8,000 students between the ages of 17 and below are being expected in Otukpo and Markudi for the Festival.

    “There are 19 scoring sporting events while three are non-scoring events at this year’s Festival. Athletics events will take place at the Markudi Stadium while the 36 states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory will participate in the National School Sports Festival”, Muhammad disclosed.

  • Man dies as Customs officers storm Saki

    Man dies as Customs officers storm Saki

    •Residents in fear

    A middle-aged manhas been killed in Saki, Oke Ogun, Oyo State, when Nigeria Customs Services (NSC) officers invaded Isale Adeen in the town and confiscated  suspected contraband.

    The officials shot into the air to arrest some suspected smugglers . A bullet hit the man, identified as Idowu.

    He was said to have been buried, according to Islamic rites. Four others were said to have been injured in the fracas.

    The officers were said to have discovered a warehouse, where suspected banned goods such as rice and other products were hidden.

    It was learnt that 10 Hilux vehicles and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were stationed around the area to prevent a reprisal.

    Residents said owing to the tension, they could not move out freely.

    A resident said: “The presence of the Customs officers is worrisome. The sporadic shooting and its effect was another. I learnt the officials suspected a warehouse they came to raid.

    “We are not saying they should not raid. It is their legitimate role, but they should do so with peoples’ rights in mind.  They can impound and arrest, but not shoot and kill.

    “Smuggling is bad, but the problem many people here are facing is that everybody is now a smuggler.

    “If my relatives in Ogbomoso or Oyo ask me to buy rice and bring for them, and it is seen in my car, I would be seen as a smuggler. That should not be the case.

    “Everyone has rights under the law but with this invasion, the rights of many people here have been violated.

    “This is an agrarian community. Many farmers are afraid to go to their farms. If the government makes provision for planting of rice in large scale, many of our youths would be meaningfully engaged and the issue of smuggling would be minimised,” he said.

    No Customs official could be reached for comments.

     

     

     

  • NTF names team for Scotland

    The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) has named a 16-man team for next month’s Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships holding in Edinburgh, Scotland.

    In the list made available to SportingLife, 2008 Beijing Olympics medalist, Chika Chukwumerije and his sibling, Uche, will lead the team to the two-day tournament coming up on November 15 and 16 at the Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh.

    Also on the team are 2011 All Africa Games medalists – Jamilu Mohammed, Sunday Onofe and Joy Ekhator.

    According to the President of NTF, George Ashiru, the list of the athletes has been confirmed by the organizers of the championship, while the team would continue to prepare ahead of the tournament.

    His words: “The Nigerian team to the 2014 Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships is grateful for the passion with which the Minister for Sports and the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) have supported and encouraged the wholesome participation of the team. I believe wholeheartedly in the High Performance initiative of the NSC, and thank all the concerned actors in this dream of the NTF unfolding positively”

    He added: “Taekwondo, being one of only five sports that have won Olympic medals (Silver 1992, Bronze 2008), the renewal of investments in the podium potential for the sport is a worthy action by the NSC. As the first NTF President to be leading the national team to this important event, I am grateful for the support of Minister Tammy Danagogo and NSC’s DG, Gbenga Elegbeleye.”

    Over 500 taekwondists from the 64 Commonwealth federations are expected at the Championships that will feature Kyorugi (fighting), Poomsae (a defined set of movements incorporating blocking, kicking and striking techniques) and, for the first time, Para-taekwondo.

    The biennial competition is expecting large national teams from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India and Malaysia, as well as the host nations.

    Taekwondo Scotland chairman, William Darlington said: “I’ve been looking forward to this for over 10 years since my colleagues and I started lobbying vigorously for taekwondo to become a fully-fledged Commonwealth Games sport. Recently we achieved the breakthrough by becoming a Category 2 Commonwealth Games sport and we may feature in future Commonwealth Games, but unfortunately that decision came too late for Glasgow 2014. But we’re delighted to invite top players to come to Scotland in the Commonwealth Games year.

    He added: “I’m looking forward to welcoming the national teams from around the world to the capital this winter for what promises to be an unforgettable event.”

    The Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships are held every two years, in every year the Commonwealth and Olympic Games are held. They are sanctioned by the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the World Taekwondo Federation and involve world class competitors, making them a major event in Taekwondo.

    Organisers hope the event will strengthen taekwondo’s bid to be included on the programme of sports for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to be held in either Durban in South Africa, or Edmonton in Canada.

  • Shippers Council set to reduce human contact at ports

    Shippers Council set to reduce human contact at ports

    THe  Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), is to automate cargo delivery process at the ports, the Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, has said.

    Bello explained that the measure  would  reduce unnecessary human contact between importers, terminal operators and officials of government agencies at the ports, and reduce the incidence, or likelihood of bribery and corruption.

    The council, it was gathered, is not happy with the clearing procedures and that is why it is introducing new methods to boost trading activites at the ports.

    Bello, it was gathered, made the position of the council known at a meeting last week in Lagos with terminal operators, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and stakeholders.

    It was gathered that Bello made it known to stakeholders that the council was not pleased that the 48-hour cargo clearance process by the government has not been achieved and urged stakeholders to key into it.

    The meeting, it was revealed, deliberated on issues militating the against 48-hour cargo clearance procedures, delay in carrying out examination of containers, transit trade and the need to adopt the automated method so as to reduce human-to-human contact in the cargo clearing process.

    Contacted, Bello said the council’s ultimate aim is to provide platforms for cargo clearance so that the ports can become efficient through automation.

    The Shippers’ Council boss urged stakeholders to come together and find solution to the challenges facing quick cargo clearance from the ports.

    “The idea is that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the referee in this friendly context, and the more we interact with the service providers and government agencies, the better understanding we will get,” he said, adding that the resolutions reached at the parley centred  on trade facilitation.

    “We need automation in our port instead of doing things manually. We need to streamline these processes and develop standard operating procedures, and check the presence of government agencies at the port on what they are doing and the Customs to also up their game in automation.

    “They have led the way but we need other stakeholders to come and buy in. So, we are doing a lot of consultation while we supervise and moderate. Customs has been leading in so many areas of what our ultimate aim is-which is automation, providing platforms for cargo clearance so that our ports will become efficient. The trade facilitation issue they have pioneered is something very commendable and it is a starting point.”

    The NSC boss also reiterated the need to streamline cargo clearance procedures and ensure Nigerian ports are more competitive with others in the West and Central African sub-region.

    “Nigerian ports are in competition with other ports within the sub-region, so we have to streamline our clearance procedures – the way we do business so that we attract more cargoes to Nigerian ports,” he said.

    Bello said some of the resolutions reached at the meeting will be directed to the government for prompt action, adding that the measures are in line with the NCS’ targets because they are strategic partners of terminal operators, shipping companies and freight forwarders

    He said that the Nigerian ports operations needed automation to meet the dynamic trends in the international maritime operations.

    “We need to develop standard operating procedures. We need to check the presence of government agencies in the ports on what they are doing,” he said.

  • Govt set to make dry ports functional

    The Federal Government is set to make all the dry ports across the country functional to reduce congestion at ports and bring shipping services to the doorsteps of importers.

    Government may declare all the dry ports as ports of destination and centres of exports in all its locations.

    The dry ports are located in Ibadan, Kano, Isiala-Ngwa (Abia), Jos, Funtua (Katsina State) and Maiduguri.

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, said the dry ports, otherwise known as Inland Container Depots and Container Freight Stations were created by the government to solve the perennial problem of port congestion.

    He said the dry ports were being driven by Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, adding that before now, government had been facing the teething problems of appropriate legal framework for the dry ports project to take off.

    He said the dry ports would be more effective if arrangement was made for an effective rail service.

    Bello said the council had embarked on negotiation with shipping line all over the world to stabilise freight rates.

    He said the appointment of a commercial regulator for the shipping industry would end the monopoly powers.

    Bello said the position of the council as a commercial regulator would increase and encourage participation of more private investors and increase the mechanism for settlement of disputes.

    He said the council would control the entry and exit of operators, adding that NSC had been acting in that role before it was appointed as an economic regulator.

    “The Council is conscious and alert to the practice of certain operators who will like to charge arbitrarily and we will checkmate this.

    ‘NSC ensures stability and ensures that the transport sector meets its expectations. For 10 years, due to negotiations with the shipping lines and market forces, NSC has been able to stabilise freight rates all over the world.

    “If not, the high costs would be passed on to consumers. NSC is an advocate of fair trade and we tell our members (shippers) to declare goods honestly and properly.

    “Now, you cannot increase port charges or local shipping charges without discussing with the NSC.’’

    Bello also admitted that  there was a tendency by some shippers to short-change the government through false declaration, adding that with false declaration, so many days would be added to the cargo dwell time that would result to demurrage and congestion.

    He said: “We have been intervening in areas of tariffs, benchmarking and service delivery. A law passed in 1978 must have some requirements for review. Now that port facilities are run by the private sector; large reforms in rail, road sector, it was expected there should be a commercial regulator and that is what we are now.’’

    On regulation of activities in the ports, Bello said one of the constituents of port reforms was provision of a regulator so that there would be equity and a level-playing field and he thanked the Federal Government for making the NSC the economic regulator of the ports.

    Bello also said the council came up with the initiative of having border information centres to reduce the difficulties faced by traders across borders.

    He said through the information centres, shippers would have access to a lot of information and data to facilitate trade.

  • Rio 2016: Athletes bank on NSC for more races

    Rio 2016: Athletes bank on NSC for more races

    National athletes that featured at the Commodore’s Boat Cruise and Race held at the Navy Sailing Club (NSC) on Saturday have called for more races as preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games get underway.

    One of the athletes, Gbamire Tunde and some of his colleagues stated that with such races they would be better prepared for the task ahead.

    Buoyed by the excellent performances put up by athletes and the large turnout of members of the club for the race, the NSC’s Commodore Giwa Daramola pledged to ensure that there are many more races to keep the athletes busy as the march towards Rio 2016 continues.

    Speaking at the end of the race which was the first in the tenure of his administration, the Commodore said: “The athletes have had fun just as guests and members of the club. However, the focus for us is to ensure that we have more races to keep the athletes on their toes at all times. Water sports, comprising sailing, canoeing, rowing, kayaking and a lot more, are Nigeria’s biggest chance of winning many medals and to be counted as a strong force. Nigeria has great potential with the natural resources of water that surrounds us. We also have athletes who with better exposure will do greatly among the very best in the world.”

  • Illegal NSC

    Illegal NSC

    Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo has gone inside his cocoon. He no longer leads the onslaught for change in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He has embraced the fact that the beautiful game belongs to FIFA, whose rules must be respected if we hope to belong to the comity of 209 countries under the control of the world soccer ruling body.

    Even with Danagogo taking the back seat, there are still pockets of grumblers, who have not realised they have been left in the lurch in the quest to eject the Aminu Maigari-led NFF board. These few must be shocked by the minister’s new position, but that is the hallmark of politics – there are no permanent friends but permanent interests. I hope those expecting the kangaroo setting to continue must be told that they shot themselves in the foot when they sought the intervention of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on the NFF election impasse.

    With the judgment from CAS, what this protest group doesn’t understand is that the matter is closed for life. It must be emphasised that FIFA frowns at its matters being taken to law courts. I also don’t think that Nigerians are in the mood to watch the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as spectators. They want the Super Eagles to defend the trophy they won in South Africa last year.

    But for Danagogo, these are troubled times. Some of his foot soldiers in the botched attempts to unseat the Maigari-led NFF have turned the axe at him. It would be interesting to watch how this new scenario plays out. But what is clear is that Nigeria football will attain its desired fillip when the new board is inaugurated after the September 30 elections in Warri.

    The minister must, however, be commended for getting security operatives to man the entrance to the Glasshouse on Monday, when those who got the court injunction vowed to storm the place to resume work. That singular act has convinced FIFA that we are prepared to do the right things in Warri on September 30 when the NFF elections hold. I want to appeal to the minister to stop the incessant arrest of NFF men, with days to the elections in Warri. Danagogo must note the FIFA men read our newspapers. They won’t hesitate to ban Nigeria, if the election doesn’t hold on September. It won’t be good for Danagogo’s tenure if we become a football pariah nation under his tutelage as sports minister. God forbid.

    However, the biggest news on Monday was the proclamation by the erstwhile Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji, that the commission was an illegal entity. I wasn’t surprised by Ekeji’s damning verdict, even though it has taken his exit from the commission to realise that the body is illegal. It is the Nigerian way of life – medicine after death.

    Since Ekeji has thrown down the gauntlet, the minister should call for the file and hasten the process of getting the NSC to be recognised by Nigerian law. As a lawyer and politician from the ruling party, Danagogo should know those to meet at the governmental and legislative levels to get the document that would make him superintend over a legal body and not an illegal one as it is.

    Danagogo cannot be struggling to legalise the NFF, yet his office is illegal. Nigerians will remember him if he can get the NSC and NFF acts into law before he quits next year. He could contact Ekeji to find out where the bill is and what needs to be done.

    Interestingly, Ekeji argued that NFF men don’t like to account for subventions. What Ekeji didn’t tell us was how well NSC has also accounted for what it spent. In one of NSC’s statement of accounts, it was stated that one director spent over N1 million to open a facebook account. It caused a furore but the House of Representatives’ Sports Committee looked the other way after raising the alarm. Nigeria we hail thee.

    The NSC and NFF bills will introduce professionalism into the two bodies. We will have men who will run the place professionally and not see the bodies as platforms for visa racketeering, shopping, enriching themselves through fat estacodes and updating the visa records in their international passports.

    In other climes, the activities of each body are a continuum, largely because of the structures instutionalised by the initiators of such bodies. The templates are such that new entrants into the NSC and the NFF know the dos and don’ts of the organisations. The transition from one board to the other is seamless, with each new board striving to improve on what it met on ground instead of haunting its predecessors with allegations of corruption or colluding with the supervisory body to oust a leadership it doesn’t like.

    We hope also that the NSC bill will remove the NFF from under the stranglehold of government officials who head the commission. The only way that our football can attain the financial independence that we crave for is to run the NFF as a business concern where its members don’t need any approval from a government official in running its initiatives meant to generate funds for its activities.

    The government should restrict its sponsorship to Nigeria’s participation in big competitions, such as the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Africa Cup of Nations etc.

    With the NFF running as a business, many Nigerians will seek to buy shares, if it is listed on the stock exchange. Such robust financial approach will guarantee good leadership that will be accountable to its investors, who will demand explicit explanations of what transpired with each financial year.

    The biggest problem with sports administration in Nigeria rests with policy sommersaults in both organisations. It explains the reason why there are several sports policies in the dusty drawers of civil servants in the sports ministry that never get to be implemented. Every new minister comes up with his own vision, even if the previous ones have produced the desired results.

    For instance, during the 8th All Africa Games held in Abuja, Ekeji came up with the laudable Team Nigeria project that settled the problem of athletes’ welfare. Nigeria won the tournament. Rather than allow Ekeji to improve on the template, he was taken out of the Sports Ministry to an obscure Ministry of Statistics. He was replaced by a technocrat who supervised the death of Team Nigeria. The relics of Ekeji’s Team Nigeria project are some of the buses that some sports federations have today, which sadly are being used to transport federations’ members and their families to weddings, funerals and, in some cases, they are used by the drivers for illegal taxi business (kabukabu).

    I was surprised that Ekeji didn’t comment of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). In the past, the NOC was solvent to do its business without government interference. Under Raheem Adejumo, NOC ran their shows effortlessly so much so that one-time Sports Minister Jim Nwobodo described the body as a cult. Nwobodo  ensured that the elderly man was eased out of the place in a commando fashion. Nwobodo did that because he couldn’t dictate to Adejumo want he wanted. Adejumo stood by the tenets of the Interantional Olympic Committee (IOC). He refused to be Nwobodo’s errand boy.

    Since the forceful removal of Adejumo, the NOC has been led by the nose by the incumbent sports minister. NOC lost its independence, more so with the insistence of the NSC men to pick the body’s leader. When would the NOC be run like the Adejumo era? Rock in your casket, Adejumo.

    Clap for Keshi

    It is good to read that Stephen Keshi is discussing with the NFF chiefs his team list for the games against Sudan on October 10 and Sudan again in Abuja on October 15. It shows that the Big Boss is willing to change.

    How exciting to read also that he is willing to trim his 27-man squad to 24. A cynic however warned me while writing this column that Keshi’s change of attitude could be because he doesn’t have a contract. I dismissed that; the Big Boss always wants to win. He may not admit it openly, but I know that he won’t want to join the league of coaches who failed to make Nigeria qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    A vote for Musa Amadu

    The hero in the NFF/NSC squabble to get the government to conduct the September 30 elections in Warri using the FIFA Statutes is the body’s General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu. Had Musa been like previous NFF secretaries, he would have done Minister Tammy Danagogo’s bidding to keep his job.

    Whatever happens in Warri election, it must be reiterated here that Amadu should retain his seat. His handling of the federation in the last four years has been devoid of the pitfalls that landed Nigeria in trouble in the past.

    Besides, Amadu has undergone several courses to update himself for the changing times in sports administration. I hope that Amadu keeps his job even if a northerner replaces Aminu Maigari as the next NFF President.

    Sport is the only endeavour in Nigeria that doesn’t recognise ethnic divides, religion and creed. It is the only part of Nigerian life that forbids national character. Amadu has excelled. We shouldn’t remove him for anyone who would be asking questions. Rather, Amadu should be encouraged to grow on the job because Nigeria doesn’t deserve less. Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

  • AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

    AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

    The National Sports Commission (NSC) has ordered the Super Eagles to play their remaining 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying home matches at the Abuja National Stadium henceforth, making Nigeria’s 2-3 loss to Congo Brazzaville at the U.J. Esuene Stadium the last match the team will play in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    NationSport scooped that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also been directed by the NSC to inform the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that Abuja is the new venue for the Super Eagles’ remaining AFCON matches.

    The NFF has fallen on hard times and has been depending largely on the benevolence of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, to bankroll the camping exercise of the Super Eagles including the players’ and coaches’ feeding and accommodation each time the team has a home match.

    “We don’t have money to prosecute the Super Eagles’ games in Abuja because, aside the fact that we are broke, Abuja fans also don’t turn up for games that much. There are also security challenges to contend with,” a source told NationSport.

    Sources revealed that the NSC, irked by the negative publicity generated by complaints about the state of the pitch in Calabar, has directed the NFF to relocate all of the Super Eagles’ matches to the Abuja National Stadium that boasts of very good pitch.

    However, NationSport understands that leaders of the NFF are not comfortable with the order as they fear that the federation will not be able to bear the high cost of executing matches in Abuja.

    Furthermore, the Glass House is uncomfortable with the relative apathy of Abuja fans during Nigeria matches unlike the lively atmosphere in Calabar where the stadium is filled to capacity and the fans are vocal in their support of Nigerian teams.

    Notwithstanding the directive of the NSC, however, the Cross River State Government is continuing the process of getting the U.J. Esuene Stadium pitch in shape for matches, while the NFF is trying to convince the NSC to allow the Super Eagles to play Sudan in Calabar on September 9.

  • Ebola: No increase in freight rates on cargoes

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Mr Hassan Bello has allayed the fear of importers and consumers, saying that there is no increase in the cost of freight on Nigeria-bound cargoes.

    He said the report that the European ship owners had increased freight rates on cargoes and also imposed surcharge on vessels and crew coming to Nigeria and other West African countries affected by the Ebola virus is not true.

    “There is no truth in the allegation. We have checked with the line carriers and their agents in Nigeria and they have all denied the increase. Ordinarily, when something like that is happening, it ought to be published.

    “What we have are the normal rates; the congestion charge, risk insurance and so on,” he said.

    Bello, however, said there was need to eliminate touts in freight forwarding practice, and urged practitioners to seek requisite knowledge in their chosen profession.

    According to Bello, the freight forwarding is a profession and the practitioners need to be trained to meet international best practices.

    He said as the economy continues to grow, freight forwarders also have a key role to play and that is why they should undergo training in freight forwarding.

    He said: “We must all do away with thugs and touts in the freight forwarding profession because we cannot afford to have them in port operations.

    “I don’t want to see touts as a freight forwarder, rather I want to see someone that is educated and can have the knowledge of international in the practice.

    “A freight forwarder needs training constantly, he needs to have an office where he must operate from because it goes beyond clearing of a cargo from the port.

    “If we have a strong freight forwarders in Nigeria, then most of our profession is also solved.”

    The secretary further described  freight forwarders as vital to trade, adding that there is need for professional training for the practitioners.

  • Council seeks to register terminal operators

    Terminal operators have  been directed to register with  the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) for accurate measurement of their performances and investments, The Nation has learnt.

    The agency, it was gathered, has also deployed over 30 of its officers to monitor terminal operators and shipping firms to ensure sanity in the ports system.

    NSC Executive Secretary Hassan Bello told The Nation that operators must support the Council by allowing its officers free access into their terminals and is releasing information to them.

    He said, henceforth, terminal operators must register with the body, adding that this was part of the port concession agreement signed by operators.

    “By the powers conferred on us, terminal operators have to give us unfettered access to their premises so that we would have supervisory ability to monitor and coordinate any activity within the terms of our instruction from the Federal Government.

    “We will come to you and enter your terminals. We are not going to sit at our own table in the office and carry out this important responsibility; from now on, you will have Shippers Council staff coming round. The idea is not only to supervise your operations, but to also deliver service to you. If you have any complaints, you should tell us and we will intervene.

    “We are also very interested in disclosure; you will have to register with the Shippers’ Council. It is there in the concession agreement; you have to give us certain information and this is also specified, this is what we will use to measure the efficiency of the terminal operator,” Bello said

    Bello urged the operators to be more efficient in cargo  handling.

    “Without the Shippers’ Council, concessionaires will not be able to function,” he said.

    Bello warned operators against bad practices, such as rent-seeking, unnecessary delays of cargoes and  charges, among others.

    “They must not increase their charges without consultation with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. We know that charges are not static, sometimes they go up and sometimes they come down, but we are concerned with the quality of service they render,” Bello said.

    Meanwhile, stakeholders have  called on the government to empower the Council and give the presidential nod for the its new status.

    At a forum organised by the agency in Kaduna, the Director, Monitoring Department of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ibrahim Kashim, said the Council needed to be empowered.

    Also, the Director, Legal Drafting Department, Federal Ministry of Justice, Alhaji Hamzat Alhassan Tahir, said the ministry was looking at powers to enable the Shippers’ Council to act as an economic regulator.