WASHINGTON: The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has signified its readiness to review its tariff regime in order to draw traffic to the Nigeria ports. This was disclosed over the weekend by the Managing Director, NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos. She said the tariff regime would be reviewed both upward and downward to make the ports competitive and attractive.
‘‘Our tariff regime will be very competitive looking at the role of Nigeria within the West African sub-region and in the continent. The tariffs will ensure that we are competitive and will also drive traffic into our ports,’’ she said.
She also disclosed that the NPA would ensure operational efficiency of the nation’s ports. ‘‘To ensure that our terminals are competitive, we are taking into considerations the fact that we cannot afford to have traffic moving away, so any decision taken in tariff regime will put into considerations the competitiveness of Nigerian Ports in West Africa coast and in the continent of Africa.
The managing director also disclosed that it would be impossible for the agency to accept payment in naira from terminal operators and shipping companies. According to her, the NPA has most of its obligations in foreign currencies and unless it was able to negotiate its obligations in naira it would be difficult to accept payments in local currency.
