By Our Correspondent
Lagos, Feb. 8, ’25 (TNZ) The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) says it is reviewing its charges upward by 15 per cent, citing a need for competitiveness and infrastructural upgrades.
TheNewsZenith reports that Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of the NPA, announced the review during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting, on Thursday in Lagos.
Dantsoho said the review of the charge is coming for the first time the Nigeria Ports Authority would be reviewing its rates since 1993.
Mr Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director of Marine and Operation, represented the NPA boss at the meeting.
He said the exigency of raising the NPA to match with its peers globally in terms of infrastructure and equipment, necessitated the charges review.
“Although the Federal Government has approved the review, the management decided to meet with stakeholders on the issue out of the desire to carry everyone along.
“The 15 per cent upward review will cut across all NPA rates and dues.
“This is premised on the urgent need to address the undesirable reality of aged and weak infrastructure.
“We need to address obsolete equipment and slow port capacity expansion.
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“These challenges have continued to diminish the performance and the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
“Port authorities depend on revenue from operations to stay alive to their responsibilities.
Such responsibilities include construction and maintenance of port infrastructure,” ThenewsZenith quotes Dantsoho as saying.
Also speaking, a Maritime Stakeholder, Mr Joshua Asanga, expressed concern about the increment.
Asanga said the inflation had suppressed the value of NPA’s present tariff, which was at about 35 per cent.
He listed port management liabilities like wages, fuel and others as having adjusted upwards without a commensurate rise in NPA charges for over 30 years.
According to him, NPA needs funds to improve port infrastructure and robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the Port Community System.
It also needs to procure tug boats and other operational platforms to achieve efficiency,” TheNewsZenith quotes Asagba as suggesting. (TNZ)
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