Nigerian Ports Authority Increases Port Charges by 15% After 32 Years

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that it has obtained the necessary approvals to raise its tariffs to improve infrastructure and upgrade equipment.

Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of the NPA, made this announcement during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos, as noted in a post on X on Thursday.

This adjustment, the first since 1993, aims to boost the operational efficiency of Nigerian ports.

Dantsoho, represented by Olalekan Badmus, the Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the NPA, explained that port authorities globally depend on operational revenue to carry out their duties.

“The 15% upward increase which is to cut across all NPA Rates and Dues is premised on the urgent need to address the undesirable reality of aged and weak Infrastructure, obsolete equipment and slow Port capacity expansion which has continued to diminish the performance and indeed competitiveness of Nigerian Ports,” Dantsoho said.

These duties encompass constructing and maintaining infrastructure, dredging shipping channels, providing aids for safe navigation, and offering modern marine vessels for efficient harbour operations. Other responsibilities include automating and digitising port processes, ensuring port security, improving energy efficiency, and facilitating employee training.

The NPA chief emphasised the urgency for Nigeria to quickly regain its competitive advantage in cargo handling, particularly given the changing global economy and competition from neighbouring nations.

He noted that the tariff adjustments would help finance the deployment of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure required for the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window (NSW).