Port Manager Wants Tariffs Review At Seaports

The Port Manager of Rivers Port, Mr Dele Alabi, has called on the Federal Government to review some of the laws regulating tariffs and prohibition list to attract patronage of Nigerian seaports.

Alabi In a statement made available to our correspondent in Port Harcourt on Monday, advised the Federal Government to take proactive measures to modify some laws on tariffs.

He said Nigeria importers’ apathy on the use of the country’s seaports was due to lack of attractiveness of the ports.

“The attractiveness of other nations’ seaports is the outcome of their economic policies. If policies are liberalised and there are tax holidays, importers will be attracted,’’ he said.

He said there was need to review some of the laws regulating exportation and importation to encourage investors to use Nigerian seaports.

“I strongly believe that the laws regulating exportation and importation should be given a human face to ensure that investors can do business in our seaports.”

The port manager noted that some of the goods on prohibition list were in the market and said there was no reason for the continuous ban on the items.

He said importers in the county patronised other countries’ seaports, especially Cotonou Port in, Benin Republic, due to its attractiveness.

Alabi, however, criticised the development and said “it is an economic sabotage, unacceptable and should be reversed. Government should do something fast to reverse it’’.

He appealed to the importers in the country to patronise the nations’ seaports so as to generate revenue for the country instead of other countries.