Lagos – A former Director-General, Government Inspector of Ships (GIS), Mr Olu Akinsoji, on Wednesday suggested that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) should collect the 3 per cent freight earnings on cargoes.
Akinsoji, who made the suggestion in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, said the 3 per cent freight earnings could be more effectively carried out by the NCS.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) collects the 3 per cent freight earnings on inbound and outbound cargoes.
The marine engineer said the customs had a more appropriate structure and access to freight figures.
“By statutory provisions, shipping development generates 3 per cent of gross freight on all international inboard and outbound cargoes from Nigeria.
“Beyond this, 2 per cent surcharges on Cabotage trade is better overseen in compliance with the law by the employers or charterers of ships,’’ he said.
Akinsoji said that the 2 per cent surcharge was in accordance with the guidelines for the implementation of the Cabotage law.
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Revenue Services (FIRS) may be relevant in collecting the two per cent surcharge,’’ the former Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said.
“By statutory provisions, shipping development generates 3 per cent of gross freight on all international inboard and outbound cargoes from Nigeria
“Similarly, the 2003 Cabotage Act requires that 2 per cent surcharge from source, based on gross earnings on contracts performed by all vessels engaged in domestic coastal trade, be remitted to NIMASA,’’ he said.
The former Sole Administrator of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom, advised that “NIMASA may set up a monitoring unit to periodically audit the process and proceeds within the framework of the Finance and Administration Directorate.
According to him, these realignments will relief the agency of the burden of pursuing ships for remittances.
Akinsoji mentioned the consequencies of establishing structures at the NIMASA headquarter and district offices to monitor cargo for verification of freight earnings and remittances
He said this would create room for administrative burden to International ships in Nigerian ports by the visitation of NIMASA personnel.
The mariner said, “Whereas NPA and Customs have necessary data.’’
The marine engineer said there would be ship delay at ports, wasteful utilisation of resources and paper work and distraction from core functions,
He also suggested some structural reforms in NIMASA, saying that “Shipping development and Cabotage law implementation functions should be placed under a Directorate;
Akinsoji said, “Seafarer and Mercantile Marine functions should be relocated to the Directorate of Maritime Safety, Security and Seafarer Standards.’’
He further suggested that dock labour supervision should be taken or relocated to the Nigerian Ports Authority. (NPA).
(NAN)