The Anti Corruption Initiative (T-PACI) has raised concerns about the negative impact of the new storage charges at Nigerian ports on the country’s economy.
The President of the organisation, Mr Stephen Ibe, at a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government through the port regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), to look into the matter.
Ibe highlighted a significant increase in storage charges, with a 350 per cent jump in the cost of a 40 feet container per day from N15,000 to N100,000 in port terminals.
Ibe noted that this steep increase places a burden on Nigerians and could have adverse effects on the populace.
Ibe also criticised the practice of stacking additional containers on top of a forty-footer container, for which each incurs a separate N100,000 charge.
He emphasised that any attempt by terminal operators to further increase storage charges should not be tolerated.
According to him, Nigerians should rely on the law and due process to ensure that corruption is not enabled within the port.
“We are strongly against the sudden surge in increase of storage charges in the port and we describe this act as fraudulent and a corrupt practice being perpetuated by the terminal operators.
“T-PACI is not saying that port concession Aries should not increase the port charges, but before such increment is effected, due consultation with relevant stakeholders should be done.
“The issue of storage/rent charges should be a no go area. We all know that when the Nigerian Ports Authority was in charge, the final period of storage charge was not up to N1,500.
“However, since the commencement of the current ports concessionaires took over, they have effected incessant increase in port charges almost everyday till the point we have now,” he said.
Ibe called for the concessionaires to remove obstacles that hinder the timely clearance of cargo at the port.
Also speaking, Mr Humphrey Okwuosa, the National Public Relations Officer of the organisation, pointed out that some of the duties paid at the port contravene the rules set by the World Customs Organisation and the World Trade Organisation.
He stressed the need for adherence to transaction value and highlighted that current practices could lead to inflation in the country.
“The one that baffles one is the maritime police alert which is done randomly. We should know that this hinders trade and should be checked,” he said.
He added that the Nigerian factor in the port should be addressed, as whatever was happening now would lead to inflation in the country.
The organisations PRO also urged the National Assembly members in charge of the oversight function in the port to rise up to address the issue at the port bfore it gets out of hand.
A member, Capt. Isa Bawa, a member of the organisation, emphasised the necessity of providing additional equipment to facilitate the smooth evacuation of cargo at the port.
Bawa said that despite having the capability to scan up to 500 containers per day, only 300 containers were currently being processed due to a shortage of vehicles.
Other members present at the conference were Mr Joseph Ezeali, National Secretary, Eke Okogbue and others.
Terminal operators in the Lagos port on Oct. 16 increased their storage charge due to high cost of operations.