Business
Group Bemoans Revenue Loss On Oil, Gas Cargoes
A group, Nigerians
Against Theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS), on Saturday, said the Federal Government will continue to lose huge revenue if it allows illegal discharge of oil and gas cargoes in undesignated terminals.
The group stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.
It expressed disappointment with the comments made by terminal operators at the Tin Can Island, Lagos against other operators outside Lagos, when the Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Retired Col. Hameed Ali, recently toured their facilities.
The terminal operators alleged that Nigeria was losing billions of naira due to a monopoly which allowed for the discharge of oil and gas related cargoes only at designated terminals.
The Chairman of NATIMS, Dr Jonas Bankole, had repeatedly said that some private jetty operators still allowed illegal discharge by ships in their terminals.
“NATIMS in the statement, said that, “Two of the companies that complained about monopoly are notorious for the illegal diversion of vessels.’’
It said that while one of them was closed for 36 days between December 2015 and January 2016 for illegally diverting a vessel, the other paid N2.5 billion in February, 2016, before a ship which was diverted to its terminal was released.
“It is the same group of companies that were dealt a blow in March 2016 when a Federal High Court in Lagos struck out their suit against the Federal Government on grounds of lack of jurisdiction.
“In the suit, Ports and Terminal Operators Nigeria Ltd. (PTOL) had alleged that vessels meant for their jetties were being diverted to other terminals since October 2013.
cargoes at designated terminals.
Ali said, “I have listened to your presentations. I would like to assure you that President’s Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is one of fairness, equity and transparency.’’
The Customs chief said that said that in the past certain things were done in accordance with the laws.
He noted that the administration believed in doing business in accordance with the law.
“We as the Customs Service have no choice but to toe that line. We have to walk the path of equity and justice.
“We will look at the laws that exist. If we find anything contradictory to the laws, we will address it but if it is in accordance with the law, we are also in a position to let you know,’’ Ali added.
The Chairman of the SIIFZ, Mr Anwar Jarmakani, said that Nigeria was losing billions of naira due to a monopoly which allowed for the discharge of oil and gas related cargoes only at designated terminals in the country.
The SIIFZ is the location of Nigerdock, a ship repair, fabrication, supply and logistics facility offering maritime, logistics and oil and gas services.
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