The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it is reviewing its charges upward by 15 per cent, citing a need for competitiveness and infrastructural upgrades.
The NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, made this known during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Dantsoho said this was the first time the NPA would be reviewing its rates since 1993.
Dantsoho, who was represented by the NPA Executive Director of Marine and Operation, Olalekan Badmus, said the authority was compelled by the exigency of bringing Nigerian ports up to speed with those of its peers globally in terms of infrastructure and equipments.
He stated: “Though the NPA rates review has already been approved by the federal government, but the management decided to meet with stakeholders on the issue out of the desire to carry everyone along.
“The 15 per cent upward review which is to cut across all NPA rates and dues is premised on the urgent need to address the undesirable reality of aged and weak infrastructure.
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“We need to address obsolete equipment and slow port capacity expansion which has continued to diminish performance and, indeed, competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
“Port authorities depend on revenue from operations to stay alive to their responsibilities which include construction and maintenance of port infrastructure.
“Other responsibilities are dredging of channels, provision of aids for safe navigation, provision of modern marine crafts for efficient harbour services, automation and digitisation of port transactions, port security, energy efficiency and training and retraining of its employees.”
Also speaking at the event, a maritime stakeholder, Joshua Asanga, said the value of NPA’s present tariff had been suppressed by inflation, which was at about 35 per cent.
Asanga listed port management liabilities like wages, fuel, and other areas of expenditure as having adjusted upwards without a commensurate rise in NPA charges for over 30 years.
He noted that the NPA needed funds for improved port infrastructure, robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Port Community System, procurement of tug boats, and other operational platforms to achieve efficiency.
The meeting agreed that existing tariffs were set devoid of capital cost, labour cost, consumables, and overhead expenditures needed to run the ports.
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