NPA Increases Port Charges by 15% to Fund Infrastructure Upgrades

The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has announced a 15% upward review of its charges.

The authority cited the need to improve competitiveness and upgrade infrastructure as the primary reasons for the increase.

During a maritime stakeholders meeting in Lagos, NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, explained that the decision was necessary to bring Nigerian ports in line with international standards.

Dantsoho, who was represented by Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director of Marine and Operations, emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement on the rate review, which has already been approved by the Federal Government.

“The 15% upward increase, which will cut across all NPA Rates and Dues, is premised on the urgent need to address the undesirable reality of aged and weak infrastructure, obsolete equipment, and slow port capacity expansion, which has continued to diminish the performance and indeed competitiveness of Nigerian Ports,” Dantsoho stated.

He pointed out that port authorities worldwide rely on operational revenue to fulfill their responsibilities.

These include the construction and maintenance of port infrastructure, channel dredging, the provision of navigational aids, modern marine crafts, automation and digitization of port transactions, port security, energy efficiency, and employee training.

Former NPA General Manager, Joshua Asanga, supported the increase, arguing that inflation, currently around 35%, has significantly eroded the value of the NPA’s current tariff.

He highlighted that port management costs, such as wages and fuel, have risen without a corresponding increase in NPA charges for over thirty years.

Asanga stressed that the NPA requires additional funds to improve port infrastructure, develop a robust ICT system for the Port Community System, and procure necessary equipment like tug boats to achieve greater efficiency.