The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ports and Harbour, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, urged terminal operators at the nation’s seaports to cooperate with government agencies to boost revenue generation in the maritime sector.
Speaking in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting with terminal operator representatives, Hon. Nnaji reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitating the ports, a project estimated to cost over $1 billion.
Hon. Nnaji emphasized the need to improve the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) internally generated revenue and block revenue leakages.
He noted that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on oil as its main economic driver, and the maritime sector, particularly the NPA, is a key revenue source for infrastructure development.
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To this end, the Committee directed all the Terminal Operators to submit relevant documents for further assess their compliance to the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into with the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) at the various terminals.
These include: the copy of the agreement with NPA, their terminal development plans, inventory of their equipments including the ones inherited from the NPA and proof of remittances of fees and rents according to the terms of the MoU.
The Terminal Operators are also expected to provide their proof of insurance on all assets, and total investment on infrastructure as well as the data of all the cargoes handled since the start of their business at the ports.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE