Group accuses NPA of encouraging revenue leakages

Determined to promote transparent port operations, group under the auspices of the Nigerians against Theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS), has accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of encouraging revenue leakages by allowing illegal berthing of ships in non-designated ports.

While calling on the federal government to beam its searchlight on NPA’s activities, the group says that the call has become necessary following the authority’s complicity towards illegal berthing or direct reception of oceangoing vessels at inappropriate terminals, which translates to huge revenue loss to the government.

In statement signed by Jonas Bankole, chairman of NATIMS, the group said: “Going by the rules, NPA provides pilotage for ships that enters Nigeria’s territorial waters and we wondered how two vessels recently berthed at two of such facilities in Lagos without NPA notice.”

“This is why NATIMS is calling on federal government to look into the activities of NPA. We do not know how many ships had berthed illegally in the past and how much revenue government has lost,” the statement says.

The Group further threatens to send petitions to the appropriate committees in the Senate and House of Representatives, stating how the activities of NPA have negatively impacted on the revenue base of the nation.

The Group however commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for recently “reading the riot act to its officers,” concerning illegal berthing of ships and mid-stream discharge of cargo.