Group accuses NPA of causing revenue leakages in maritime sector … Seeks FG’s intervention over situation
An
organisation dedicated to promoting transparency in the maritime sector,
Nigerians Against Theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS), has called on the
Federal Government to beam its searchlight on the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA), alleging that the agency’s activities have caused revenue leakages in
the maritime sector.
organisation dedicated to promoting transparency in the maritime sector,
Nigerians Against Theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS), has called on the
Federal Government to beam its searchlight on the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA), alleging that the agency’s activities have caused revenue leakages in
the maritime sector.
The Federal
Government’s intercession is being sought, according to NATIMS, because of
“what looks like the complicity of NPA in the illegal berthing or direct
reception of ocean-going ships/vessels at inappropriate terminals has become
obvious thereby leading to conclusions that its actions translate into huge
revenue loss to the Federal Government.”
Government’s intercession is being sought, according to NATIMS, because of
“what looks like the complicity of NPA in the illegal berthing or direct
reception of ocean-going ships/vessels at inappropriate terminals has become
obvious thereby leading to conclusions that its actions translate into huge
revenue loss to the Federal Government.”
NATIMS made its position known via a press statement signed by its Chairman,
Dr. Jonahs Bankole, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Dr. Jonahs Bankole, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Bankole stated: “Two recent incidents where two ships, Antigua and
Berbuda-flagged MV Drago J with 470
twenty-foot equivalent of containers and MV Torco Clairvaux,
respectively, sneaked into Nigerdock facility at Snake Island Integrated Free
Zone, Apapa on January 19, 2016, and Ladol facility on December 16th, 2015, leave much to be desired.
Berbuda-flagged MV Drago J with 470
twenty-foot equivalent of containers and MV Torco Clairvaux,
respectively, sneaked into Nigerdock facility at Snake Island Integrated Free
Zone, Apapa on January 19, 2016, and Ladol facility on December 16th, 2015, leave much to be desired.
“We in NATIMS
know that, going by the rules, NPA provides pilotage for any ship/vessel that
enters Nigeria’s territorial waters and we wonder how the two ocean-going
vessels berthed illegally at Nigderdock and Ladol facilities without NPA
noticing them.
know that, going by the rules, NPA provides pilotage for any ship/vessel that
enters Nigeria’s territorial waters and we wonder how the two ocean-going
vessels berthed illegally at Nigderdock and Ladol facilities without NPA
noticing them.
“If NPA
provided pilotage for the two ships, then something is wrong somewhere and that
is why NATIMS is calling on the Federal Government to look into the activities
of the NPA. We do not know how many ships had berthed illegally in the past and
how much revenue government has lost.”
provided pilotage for the two ships, then something is wrong somewhere and that
is why NATIMS is calling on the Federal Government to look into the activities
of the NPA. We do not know how many ships had berthed illegally in the past and
how much revenue government has lost.”
Bankole said
that NATIMS proposes to “send a petition to relevant committees in the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, on how the activities of NPA
have negatively impacted on the revenue base of the nation and how to reverse
the situation.”
that NATIMS proposes to “send a petition to relevant committees in the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, on how the activities of NPA
have negatively impacted on the revenue base of the nation and how to reverse
the situation.”
The NATIMS
boss expressed hopes that, in the course of their respective oversight
functions, the Committees on Marine Transport of the lower and upper chambers
of the National Assembly “will address the issue of illegal berthing of
ships/vessels as well as the danger of having government agencies that are no
longer alive to their responsibilities in terms of revenue generation.”
boss expressed hopes that, in the course of their respective oversight
functions, the Committees on Marine Transport of the lower and upper chambers
of the National Assembly “will address the issue of illegal berthing of
ships/vessels as well as the danger of having government agencies that are no
longer alive to their responsibilities in terms of revenue generation.”
NATIMS had
kind words for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), commending the Service for
“reading the riot act to its officers and men concerning illegal berthing of
ships/vessels and mid-stream discharge of cargo as well as and the consequences
of such actions.”
kind words for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), commending the Service for
“reading the riot act to its officers and men concerning illegal berthing of
ships/vessels and mid-stream discharge of cargo as well as and the consequences
of such actions.”
NATIMS was,
however, quick in noting that that the effort of the NCS “would not yield
maximum results if the NPA fails to pilot ships that arrive at the nation’s
waters to the appropriate ports before they are cleared for their final
destinations.”
however, quick in noting that that the effort of the NCS “would not yield
maximum results if the NPA fails to pilot ships that arrive at the nation’s
waters to the appropriate ports before they are cleared for their final
destinations.”
