Esther Oritse
Lagos — The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Thursday increased its tariff by 15 percent, a development that has pitched the agency against stakeholders who have called for a cancellation of the increase.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ interactive session, Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marina and Operations, Engr Okalekan Badmus said that the government had approved the upward review in the year 2023 adding that it was not implemented then owing to certain reasons one of which was to enable us conclude on our internal processes and come out with the mode of implementation that will protect the interest of all parties.
Dantsoho disclosed that this is the first time 32 years the NPA is increasing its tariffs noting that the implementation is yet to start as stakeholders needed to sensitised.
Dantsoho said:” The decision by NPA Management to embark on these sensitization activities was borne out of our desire to carry our valued stakeholders along so that at the end of the day we will all have better understanding of what informed the decision to review the tariff.
“Although our tariff had gone through the processes of simplification and harmonization over the years as a result of Concession Agreements that took place in 2006 and emergence of new operations in some port locations recently, it is pertinent to mention that the Authority is still operating 1993 tariff regime thirty- two years after.
“Although the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy hitherto known as Ministry of Transportation approved the upward review in year 2023, it was not implemented then owing to certain reasons one of which was to enable us conclude on our internal processes and come out with the mode of implementation that will protect the interest of all parties.
“As we go into the business proper, I appeal to all of us to be objective in our discussions especially as it relates to pricing of our services vis-as vis the current economic realities for sustainability and allow for more efficient service delivery to you the esteemed customers.
