FG to blame for charges disparity problems in maritime operations - STOAN

Tayo Oladipupo |

The problems emanating from disparity in charges and misunderstanding between maritime regulators and operators has been blamed on the inconsistent policies of the federal government.

Recall that there has not been a review of the charges by terminal operators and shipping companies to reflect the present economic realities of the country.

Terminal operators have argued that government agencies operating in the port have increased their charges on imports into the country but terminal operators were not allowed to review their charges even though the reality on ground is different from what obtained twelve years ago when the port was concessioned.

The Executive Vice Chairman of ENL Consortium Vicky Haastrup said this yesterday at the third Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime conference organised by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Maritime Forum.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Ports Costs and Port Charges: Recurring Decimal under the Ports Reform Regine”.

Haastrup who doubles as the Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigerian (STOAN) said the government has failed to perform its duty as expected from the inception of the concession of the port.

She said that the government has been insincere in all its policies adding that enabling environment is not created for business to thrive.

“The truth is the leadership, federal government is the problem, we need to look at it that way, am not talking of the present administration, the whole thing started from time immemorial, there was no sincerity on the part of government itself.”

Speaking further, the ENL helmsperson fumed on why all blames are laid at the doorstep of terminal operators and questioned why same hues do not go to the customs, NIMASA, NSC and other agencies who have reviewed their charges from what it used to be.

“If you look at what is happening in Apapa today, there is no enabling environment. The terminal operators have invested heavily, what do we get in return?

“In 2006, when we took over the port, dollar was 125, what is it today, N362 and by implication, our cost of operation has increased over 100 percent.

“What was customs duty in 2006 on commodities and what is it now? Why are we shouting terminal operators?

“NIMASA’s charges since 2006, is it still the same today? Who regulates them? In fact, NIMASA charges are one of the highest in the world.

Government policy somersault, do they sit well and think properly? Government needs to quickly pass Port and Harbour bill because it has been delayed for too long. It has been twelve years terminal operators have been operating in the port, yet the bill is still waiting to be passed.

“There can’t be ease of doing business if the government does not make a decisive move; they need to take some stance on issues that constitute bottlenecks to ease of doing business.

“The Vice President has been doing a lot about that but there has to be follow up in areas that have been identified like we say there are too many agencies operating within the port.