ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Former government Inspector of Shipping, Captain Adegboyega Sahib Olopoenia, has sounded the alarm on the precarious state of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA’s major revenue source.
The agency heavily relies on the three per cent statutory levy imposed on freight earned by foreign going vessels that call at Nigerian ports. However, according to Captain Olopoenia, this crucial revenue stream is under siege due to unscrupulous practices by certain shipping agents.
Captain Olopoenia, who retired as the Director of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard at NIMASA, disclosed that some shipping agents are resorting to dubious tactics, such as non-declaration and under declaration of ships and cargo, in an attempt to evade the payment of the three per cent charges.
This has resulted in substantial revenue leakages and raised serious concerns about the agency’s ability to collect its rightful dues.
In a chat with voiceofnaija.ng, Captain Olopoenia emphasized that a staggering eighty per cent of NIMASA’s revenue is tied to this Statutory levy, making it crucial to address the sharp practices that are undermining the agency’s financial stability.
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The revenue sources for NIMASA include a two per cent surcharge on contracts performed by Cabotage vessels, half per cent of shore handling charges of terminal operators under maritime labor, and income from licensing, surveys, ship registration, waiver fees, and miscellaneous sources.
However, the three per cent levy remains the primary pillar of NIMASA’s income, underscoring the urgency to tackle the challenge head-on.
Captain Olopoenia laid out several recommendations to safeguard NIMASA’s revenue collection process. He proposed a comprehensive overhaul and streamlining of the collection procedure to plug existing loopholes.
Additionally, he suggested leveraging additional ship information from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), coupled with ship and cargo tracking intelligence and external auditor oversight, to ensure strict compliance.
Zero tolerance for corrupt practices is essential, according to Captain Olopoenia, who also highlighted the need for enhanced training for staff in the Shipping and Finance departments of NIMASA to improve their evaluation of shipping documents and billing processes.
Furthermore, he called for an aggressive debt recovery drive to retrieve all outstanding debts owed to the agency, using appropriate legal mechanisms.