ABUJA—Activities would soon commence in the rail sub-sector of the nation’s transport industry as President Umaru Yar’Adua is expected to present the Railway Reform Bill to the Federal Executive Council at its meeting, in Abuja, today.

The Bill which would repeal the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act, 1955 and provide a platform for the introduction of private sector concessionaires, promotion and regulation of competition in the industry would be one of seven Bills slated to be presented to the council.

A presidency source said the president had been concerned about the state of the nation’s transport sector and prepared to move to fix the rail sub-sector which would be expected to provide a succor for ordinary Nigerians.

Similarly, the Road Sector Reform Bill which replaces the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency Act of 2002 and seeks to improve service delivery by creating improved institutional structures would be tabled before the cabinet.

This will promote the sustainable development and operation of the road sector while facilitating the development of competitive markets for private participation in financing, maintenance and improvements of roads in Nigeria.
In addition, the National Transport Commission Bill which seeks to establish the National Transport Commission designed to be a multi-sector regulator covering roads, rail, air and marine and to provide an economic regulatory framework would also be presented.

The Inland Waterways Authority Bill seeking to replace the National Inland Waterways Authority Act of 1997 by providing for management, control, operation and development of the inland waterways would be one of them. The new regulatory framework would open up the sectors to private sector while limiting the roles of the supervising ministries to policy formulation and supervision.

There is also Ports and Habour Reform Bill that will repeal and replace the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, No 38 of 1999 and seek to promote efficiency in ports, encourage competitive and cost effective ports services, reduce cost to government for provision of ports services and encourage public/private sector partnership based on the principles of accountability, competition, fairness and transparency.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Bill would, equally be presented. It seeks to promote the welfare and interests of consumers and provide them with competitive prices and choices regulate monopolies, mergers/acquisitions and all forms of business combinations and prohibit restrictive business practices which prevent, restrict or distort competition or constitute the abuse of a dominant player in the market.

The bills package also include the Postal Bill which seeks to replace the Nigerian Postal Service Decree of 1992, create an enabling environment for private sector participation in postal services, establish an independent Regulator and align the sector to global development, in addition to protecting the right and interest of service providers and consumers.

“He is a methodical person who wants his achievements to speak for him. By 2011, President Yar’Adua wants to point to the kilometres of roads and rail lines that have been constructed under his tenure, the stable electricity he envisages Nigerians will begin to enjoy by the end of this year and the consolidation of the efforts with regards to land reform and agriculture all geared towards wealth creation and food security”, he stressed.

“In a four-year tenure some people are very good at drawing applause in their first year in office by simply going for the so-called low-hanging fruits but at the end of their tenure when you look back, there is hardly any concrete achievement you can point to. The reverse is the case with President Yar’Adua”, presidential Spokesman, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, told State House correspondents in Abuja, yesterday

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/34123/42/

The President is privatising most public goods in Nigeria. This Conservative ideology that the private sector is always the best solution seems to have worked wonders for the U.S. financial sector and brought the global economy to its knees.

I remember back in the days when the Ministry of works actually employed engineers that built infrastructures and undertook road maintainance.
What is the relevance of the Nigeria Railway Corporation if it cannot employ rail engineers to construct and run rail services.

With the level of unemployment in Nigeria, you would think that the various federal and state works departments can use the available resources to improve the quality of life for all. Governments seem to be more interested in awarding contracts to cronies that will never be executed.

sounds great so far !! But I still will not vote for him come 2011, even if he delivers on these promises.

moneygurl:


The Competition and Consumer Protection Bill would, equally be presented. It seeks to promote the welfare and interests of consumers and provide them with competitive prices and choices regulate monopolies, mergers/acquisitions and all forms of business combinations and prohibit restrictive business practices which prevent, restrict or distort competition or constitute the abuse of a dominant player in the market.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/34123/42/

If the Competition Bill is passed through Parliament, I will say it will be one of the biggest achievement of Yar'Adua's govt. However, if Mr Yar'Adua knew he was planning to send a Competition Bill to the legislature, why was the govt in a haste to sign the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway PPP contract?
The contract does nothing but put Bi-Courtney in a monopoly situation, which is exactly what the Competition Bill is trying to regulate. For me, this vindicates the argument about 'foul' play in the handling of that project. I can bet my life that the road contract will never pass the competition test.
It was another classic case of putting the cart before the use.

In fact, I will say it was bad a the Nigerian govt to have embark on the so-called 'privatization' without having a legislation that protects consumers against monopolies.

Anyway, some other people might see it differently.
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I pray they act on it. Far as i can remember, he promised to call for an emergency on the electricity problem, we need action