The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has vowed to tackle the multiple charges imposed on importers and exporters at Nigerian ports, saying the move will reduce the cost of doing business and make the country’s ports more competitive.
The agency, formerly known as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), now has the mandate to harmonise port charges and regulate service providers, according to Pauline Osasona, Head of the NPERA Abuja Liaison Office.
Speaking at a sensitisation programme at the Abuja International Trade Fair, Osasona said the proliferation of charges by government agencies and others had made Nigerian ports significantly more expensive than competing gateways in the region.
“All of us are aware that there are multiple charges at the ports. A lot of agencies charge almost the same thing,” she said.
She said the high charges were driving traders towards cheaper ports in neighbouring countries, putting Nigeria at a competitive disadvantage and contributing to lost revenue.
She said NPERA’s new regulatory role would focus on eliminating unnecessary charges and bringing legitimate fees down to the bare minimum.
She added that the high cost of port operations was hurting exporters, importers and the wider Nigerian economy, warning that the country was losing revenue as businesses sought cheaper alternatives elsewhere.