Apparently disturbed by the rate at which Nigerian businessmen are now going to other West African ports to carry out their businesses at the detriment of the Nigeria’s economy, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has condemned the development describing it as an act of economic sabotage.
Port Manager Rivers port, Mr Oladele Alabi in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt last week described as unacceptable, a situation where Nigerian businessmen abandon Nigerian ports to travel thousands of kilometers and patronize ports of other countries.
Apparently disturbed by the rate at which Nigerian businessmen are now going to other West African ports to carry out their businesses at the detriment of the Nigeria’s economy, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has condemned the development describing it as an act of economic sabotage.
Port Manager Rivers port, Mr Oladele Alabi in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt last week described as unacceptable, a situation where Nigerian businessmen abandon Nigerian ports to travel thousands of kilometers and patronize ports of other countries.
The Port Manager argued that the major reason why Nigerian importers prefer other seaports, including those of Cotonou Ports is as a result of the attractiveness of those seaports.
“The attractiveness of the seaport is the outcome of the economic policy. If policies are liberalized and tax holidays given, this may attract the importers to commence the usage and utilization of our own seaports” Alabi pointed out
He stressed the need for the review of the laws regulating importations in Nigeria. According to him, the government needs to take proactive measures to modify some of the laws as it relates to tariffs and prohibition list, so as to make Nigerian seaports more attractive.
“I strongly belief that the laws regulating exportation and importation, should be given human face, as a way to ensure that investors can do business in our seaports” Mr. Alabi reiterated
He argued that some of the goods on prohibition list considered as banned goods still find their way to Nigerian Markets, and wondered why these goods are still placed under the prohibition list.
“This is of a truth, a net or colossal loss to government” Mr Alabi maintained.
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