The Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Mr Muhammed Bello-Koko has disclosed that since 1994, the Authority has not reviewed its tariff upwards, saying the development is part of efforts to encourage patronage of Nigerian ports even in the face of rising inflation.
Besides, he added that the non-increase is to deepen ease of doing business at the ports.
Bello-Koko said: “The NPA has not increased its tariff since 1993. The rates that we have been using since 1993 are still the same rate that we are using today.
“The last time the NPA increased its tariff was in 1993. Yes, the cost of doing business at the ports may be high, but we have not increased our tariff in the last 30 years.
“It was in 2012 or 2014 that the NPA increased the cost of towage. Every other tariff has remained as it is since 1993. The cost of doing business could be increasing, but it is not attributable to the tariff and rates of the NPA.
“What we did in 2012 was to harmonize the tariffs and merge them because there were so many. Before then, if anybody is looking for our tariffs, they will find many tariffs broken into pieces.
“So, what we did then was to merge them.”
On the rehabilitation of ports across the country, Bello-Koko said he was committed to rehabilitating some quays in Apapa, Warri, Calabar, and Onne.
“Assessment carried out so far shows that $800 million is needed in reconstructing the dilapidated infrastructure.”
