By Steve Agbota
The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) has called on the Federal Government to seek experts’ services to reform the Nigerian ports system in order to be predictable, transparent, consistent and compete favourably with other ports in the world.
The National President of NCMDLCA, Lucky Amiwero, stated this yesterday in Lagos to mark his 68th birthday and reflect achievements made in the maritime industry in the last 44 years.
According to him, Nigerian ports system lack predictability, transparency and consistency, adding that nobody can predict when importers or agents can move out cargo out of the port due to gridlock and other challenges facing port operations in the country.
Amiwero said that there is no law and regulations in the nation’s maritime industry, adding that nobody regulates the port operations system.
“If you look at Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) law today, we have to fight that the law was not passed. What we are looking for is the law that would be passed to incorporate a proper port system. NPA port system is not defined and it has a law that is not practicable.
“NPA cannot regulate anybody. What is happening in the port is power play from the presidency giving order not to do this, don’t do that and that is not how it is supposed to be. We need a law that will define NPA roles properly, for now NPA role is not defined because Nigerian port have four elements and three components in Port structures,” he said.
He said there are three components that has to do with regulations, port operations and landlord, landlord takes care of marine while the regulation is supposed to be done by either NPA but government gave it to Nigerian Shippers Council because there is no law to midwife that.
“We have a port operation that has been ceded to terminal operators without a law but a contract, which is not in line with the principles, adding that Nigeria has a port system that is ceded to the advantage of terminal operators and shipping companies.
“On concession, you don’t concession your port without regulations. There is no regulation in the port. Nobody regulates. The economic interest is not covered. Importers and agent are paying the cost.
“Look at the Nigeria’s cost, it is quite huge. Everyday you see cost comes up and is not going down because of system we operate in the Port. The regulation economic interest is not taking into congnisance. Look at the rent we are paying in the port, they are not paying such anywhere in the world,” he said.