Harboursandport.com: Lagos -- Maritime operators have faulted the continue
collection of the lease agreement levy by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA in
dollars despite the obvious depreciation of the naira resulting in the increase
of the amount paid by terminal operators
for this purpose.
Speaking at the 3rd Taiwo Afolabi
Annual Maritime Conference put together by the Maritime Forum of the University
of Lagos, the operators stressed the above contributes to the high cost of port
operation in the country.
In his opening remark at the event sponsored
by the Sifax Group with the theme: Port
Cost and Port Charges a Recurring Decimal under Port Reforms Regime,”
Executive Vice Chairman of the Sifax Group, Taiwo Afolabi, said in 2006 when
the terminals were concessioned to private operators, the exchange rate was
between N125 and N131 to the dollar.
He said that the situation has since changed
with the dollar exchanging for more than double the amount as at 2006.
According to Afolabi who was the chief host
at the event, said “And at what time intervals do you review coast, given the
eternally dynamic and mercurial unpredictability of the movement of the exchange
rate of the naira to the dollar?
“I recall as an industry player myself that
the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar in the year 2006 for instance,
when we became port concessionaires or known otherwise as terminal operators
was between N125 and N131 to the dollar?
“How much is the exchange rate today? In
other words, since many of the obligations of the terminal operators are expected
to be discharged to the lessee in dollars, how much naira will be enough today
to purchase the required dollars today, 12 whole years after the historic
concession? How do you generate that amount of naira in today’s national
economy? He asked.
Similarly, the Executive Vice Chairman of ENL
Consortium, Princess Vicky Haastrup, said despite the depreciation of
the naira, nobody is considering how the terminal operators source foreign currency
to pay for the lease of the terminals.
In her words, “In 2006 when we took over the
operations of the ports, naira was N125 to a dollar, what is it today, it is
N362 as at yesterday. By implication our cost of operation has increased by
almost 100 percent, salary is going up, to put the right infrastructure in
place cost money, who bears the cost, are we considering him.
“As
Otumba Kunle Folarin elaborated, what was Customs duty on commodities and
cargos imported into Nigeria in 2006, what is it now? I know that if you are
bringing in brand new car it is 70 percent plus other charges by the Customs.
Is Customs charging the same amount today as it was charging as at 2006?
“Rather
than shouting terminal operators, terminal operators, is NIMASA’s charges the
same as it the same as it was in 2006, who moderates them, who regulates them,
who looks at what they are charging? I am not talking only about NIMAS, NPA is
also there and Shippers Council is also there too.
“What
NIMASA charges is one of the highest in the world am I not right?
How
can importers go to Republic of Benin because of terminal operators? It is
because of government policies, policy summersault.
“Do
they sit well and think deeply before changing policies every time. An importer
will place an order for goods, Customs will increase tariff on the item without
consideration for such an importer that has open letter of credit, is that
wise; have they not put him in trouble”?
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