Even as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has agreed to pay all levies owed to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stakeholders in the maritime industry have described the scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a form of sabotage on the part of the energy company.
Reacting to the scarcity of cooking gas in some parts of the country, marine experts have alleged that the commodity is available, but added that NLNG is hoarding the product and to resell in other to maximise profit.
Even as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has agreed to pay all levies owed to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stakeholders in the maritime industry have described the scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a form of sabotage on the part of the energy company.
Reacting to the scarcity of cooking gas in some parts of the country, marine experts have alleged that the commodity is available, but added that NLNG is hoarding the product and to resell in other to maximise profit.
President , Association of Marine Electronic Radio Officers(AMERO) Engineer Isaac Isunamu told Shipping Position Daily on Tuesday in Lagos, that the energy firm is playing games by hoarding the product.
Isunamu noted that "when you create scarcity, there will be increase demand and they will make money, this is what they are trying to do to us and is a way of sabotaging the economy and they know it because they are trying to play politics with their business so that they won't pay as much as they are supposed to pay ".
He said that NIMASA has played its role as a maritime agency of government to collect its due and the energy firm should provide the commodity for Nigerians.
On his part, President Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association; Engineer Matthew Alalade explained that NIMASA is only carrying out its statutory responsibility as an agency of the government and not to make embarrass the energy firm.
According to him, the association is in support on NIMASA’s action because the NLNG action of default in payment of taxes is not obtainable in other parts of the world.
"You cannot operate in Europe without paying the maritime dues to the land owners and I don't see why they are adamant to pay the levy", he queried.
He said even after the court verdict, LNLG should not hesitate to pay the due as it will harm the nation's economy.
He also described the development as an eye opener to other firms that are adamant to pay levies that are supposed to be for NIMASA.
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