Group wants FG’s intervention on contentious cargo monopoly, others at port
Worried by persistent verbal war between terminal operators in Lagos and those located in the Eastern ports, a group under the aegis of Nigerians against theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS) has called on the Federal Government to investigate all the contention issues trailing cargo handling among terminal operators as stipulated in the concession agreement.
The war, which dwells on discharging oil and gas cargos on the Federal Government designated terminals, as specified by the concession agreement, has become an issue of disagreement between the operator of oil and gas terminals in south-south region and operators of private jetties in Lagos.
BusinessDay search shows that the former has consistently accused the later of diverting vessels carrying oil and gas related cargoes, while the later accused the former of monopolising oil and gas related businesses in the nation’s maritime sector.
The issues also played up during the recent visit of Hammed Ali, comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to terminals in Lagos port earlier this month. Here, the aggrieved operators accused government agencies of short changing the Federal Government in terms expected revenue from the maritime sector by encouraging monopoly in the sector.
Statistics have shown that when ships carrying oil and gas cargo are illegally diverted to a private jetty instead of an appropriate terminal as required by law translates into a huge financial loss to the Federal Government. This is because, instead of discharging the cargo at the rate of $5.8 per tonne of the cargo at the appropriate terminal, same transaction goes for one dollar per tonne at private jetties,” says NATIMS in a statement signed by its chairman, Jonahs Bankole.
Bankole, who stated that economy will lose revenue that is supposed to be generated into the Federal Government coffers, if such is allowed to continue, also said that over the years, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had offered technical explanations on why private jetties would not be allowed to receive oceangoing vessels.
He listed the reasons to be shallow nature of the depth of the water where the jetties are located, space required for maneuvering of large vessels, the need to avoid any mishap which would have dire consequences for the movement of other vessels.
Bankole further pointed out the need to refer back to the existing Presidential order banning private jetties from receiving oceangoing vessels at their terminals directly without such vessels first berthing at FG’s concessioned ports and obtaining all clearances before proceeding to the final destination, which could be private jetty, for discharging.
The essence of the CG’s visit to terminal operators in Lagos, he stated was aimed at standardising Customs procedures, harmonising operations and enhancing revenue collection, and not to discuss monopoly among other issues that belong to the Federal Ministry of Transport.
Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie