By Godwin Oritse

IN a bid to block revenue leakages at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA)   the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has summoned 1,319 companies to appear before it during a public hearing on operational deficiencies at the agency.

House of Representatives

According to the Committee’s chairdman, Mr Mohammed Umar Bago, the amount of money lost in the sector was about $10bn. The Committee said that the affected companies would respond to questions relating to 3% freight levy, 2% Cabotage surcharge, sea protection levy, stevedoring, among others.

It said that the process that led to the revenue leakages were benchmark approach, as opposed to actual freight charges in the determination of the 3%, midstream clearance and discharge of cargo vessels, activities of foreign flag vessels in coastal trade, ship-to-ship discharge of wet cargo, concealment of marine spread of oil and gas contract agreements and illegal Cabotage exemptions, dredging and reclamation activities within the Nigerian waterways.

Some of the companies summoned were drawn mainly from the oil and gas sector as well as private jetty owners and operators. Confirming development, Spokesperson of the agency, Hajia Lami Tumaka told Vanguard NIMASA is collaborating withn the Committee on the matter.

Tumaka also said that the agency is making as much information as available to the Committee in order to help in the blocking such leakages.