Comfort Oseghale
Nigeria is said to be losing an
estimated $1.5bn annually to a monopoly, which allows for the discharge
of oil and gas-related cargos at a designated terminal belonging to a
particular company.
The Nigerian Ports Authority had last
year issued a directive, citing presidential order, that all oil and
gas-related cargos must be handled only by the company’s terminal in
Onne, Warri and Calabar ports. The directive was signed on behalf of the
NPA managing director by its General Manager (M&O), A. A. Goje.
The Chairman, Snake Island Integrated
Free Zone, Anwar Jarmakani, said this while receiving the Comptroller
General of Customs, Hameed Ali, and members of his management team
during a visit to Nigerdock, a ship repair, fabrication, supply and
logistics facility on Monday.
He said, “Our oil and gas supply and
logistics service is the most expensive in the world because of this
entrenched monopoly. It adds an extra cost of $3-$5 per barrel produced
in Nigeria, which translates into over $1.5bn per annum.
“This monopoly seriously damages the
international reputation of Nigeria. It has over the last 20 years used a
non-existent law to justify its actions and coerce industry and service
providers into doing its bidding and thereby undermining the Nigerian
economy.”
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