Operators fault NPA, back Shippers Council as port regulator

Nigeria Port Authority

Operators in the maritime industry have accused the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, of neglecting their interest, even as they expressed confidence in the proposed move by the Federal Government to make the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, the commercial regulator for port operations.

The operators noted that NPA had failed to take their interest into consideration in its decisions since the ports were concessioned years back.

National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, blamed the authority for the increase in charges few years back without involving all stakeholders as stated by the concession agreement.

According to Shittu, it was in 2012 that the Minister of Transport through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) granted increase in storage charges in order to discourage people from using the ports for storage purposes.

He however, expressed confidence in the ability of NSC to take up the responsibility of the commercial regulator for port operations, as they have all the data on port operations and cargoes in the nation’s ports.