Mrs. Boma Alabi, Chairman of the Shipping Association of Nigeria, stated that indirect taxes make Nigerian ports uncompetitive for customers. She explained that the high cost of doing business in Nigerian ports is harming the country, as smaller nations are attracting Nigeria’s cargo.
At a press conference held at the Lagos Yacht Club in Victoria Island, Alabi emphasized that high berthing costs are making Nigerian ports unattractive.
She remarked,The indirect taxes customers must pay are making Nigeria’s business environment less welcoming for investment. Nigerian ports have become uncompetitive due to the multiple charges compared to neighboring ports like Cotonou and Lome, which have lower fees.
Citing Terminal 3 at Tema Port in Ghana, a dedicated container terminal with three berths that can accommodate ships up to 366m LOA and 16 meters draught, she pointed out that Tema Port handles 1.9 million TEUs annually, while Nigeria manages only 1.2 million TEUs per year, according to a 2024 report by NPS Meridian Port Services Limited.
She stated that the Blue Economy Project is doomed from the start due to the Nigerian government’s anti-business stance. She called on the government to reassess the charges to align with those at neighboring ports and urged the agencies to collaborate with stakeholders to review these fees, making Nigerian ports competitive once more.
Ramesh Saraf, the Deputy Managing Director of CMA/CGM Nigeria, highlighted that although the Lekki Free Trade Zone was established with international investment, it remains underutilized in terms of transshipment. He pointed out that the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which began operations in April 2023, is handling less than half of its cargo capacity, and operations have since decreased further.
According to Saraf, the cost of operating at Lekki Deep Sea Port is three times higher than the port charges at other global ports. He also noted that the volume of work at the port is less than half of its potential, and with the recent 15 percent fee increase, transshipment costs are now more than three times higher than those at other ports.
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