And due to the inefficiencies, importers divert cargoes to more efficient seaports in neighboring countries and smuggled through the country’s porous borders making Nigeria lose several billions of naira yearly.
The losses, are from revenues accruable to government in earnings, revenues that range from ship berthing fee, three per cent levy for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), import duty collected by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on cargoes brought into the country among others.
For instance, data from the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), indicated that Nigerian ports have three free storage days and five demurrage free days, which is low compared to neighbouring Benin Republic, which has 10 demurrage-free days. Ghana, on the other hand, has eight demurrage-free days.
