By Godwin Oritse

LAGOS— Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited, PTML, yesterday, denied owing the Federal Government any fees, charges or rental.

In a reaction to Vanguard’s story on Monday, PTML said it was not indebted to the Federal Government or the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, in the stated amount or in any sum at all.

PTML said it was not a chronic debtor that was contributing to the economic adversity of the country, adding that the company was managed by responsible managers and was credit worthy.

Vanguard had said that Terminal operators in Nigeria were currently indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of $433.4 million, about N86.2 billion, for lease and container throughput fees as at December 2015. But most of the terminal operators, when contacted, said they were up to date with their payments to NPA.

According to Vanguard earlier report, “speaking in defence of Intels, Mr. Sambol Isidore said he was not aware of any indebtedness of Intels to NPA, adding that if anybody was owing, it will be NPA that would be indebted to Intels.

“As far as our records show, NPA owes us a lot, we have a lot to reconcile with NPA, because I cannot believe that Intels is operating somewhere and is owing lease fee.

“Throughput fee is calculated based on volumes and that was why we kept talking about oil and gas cargo. When they give the lease, assumptions are made over the period of the lease and if all things go well, the accruable lease fees can be calculated.”

Also speaking on behalf of Intels, its external media consultant, Mr. Emmanuel Ugorji, said the firm was up to date with payment to NPA as at December 2015, adding that $210 million was paid to NPA last year and that if anything was being owed, it will be for January this year.

He said: “We keep talking about oil and gas cargo, that was the point we were making. Our terminal is for oil and gas. If we do not have the throughput coming into ports, how do we make the money to pay NPA?

Speaking in defence of Ecomarine, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke said the firm had paid all its dues to NPA, explaining that the Compliance and Monitoring Committee from the NPA commended them for being up to date with their payment.

When Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, was contacted for comments, he was said to be out of the country.