Nigeria is losing $10 billion in the maritime industry due to revenue leakages. To address the problem, the Nigerian House of Representatives committee on Maritime, Safety, Education and Administration has summoned 1,319 companies to appear on June 15, in Abuja.
The committee also invited critical stakeholders in the maritime sector including Nigerian maritime administration and safety agency (NIMASA), Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Nigerian Custom Service, Nigerian Immigration Service among others.
The committee, chaired by Mohammed Umar Bago, said that it aims to investigate leakages and operational deficiencies in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
It was learnt that the invited companies would answer questions relating to freight levy, cabotage surcharge, and sea piracy among others.
According to the committee, the move seeks benchmark approach as opposed to actual freight charges in the determination of 3 percent of freight levy of both dry and wet cargoes midstream clearance and discharge of cargo vessels and vessels on temporary importation
It also seeks to investigate activities of foreign flag vessels in coastal trade and ship to ship discharge of wet cargo from mother vessels to daughter vessels.
Also, the committee promised to address concealment of marine spread of oil and gas contract agreements, illegal cabotage exemptions, dredging and reclamation activities within Nigerian waters.
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