By Godfrey Bivbere & Precious Iyomere

OPERATORS in the maritime industry have expressed varied opinion on the recent budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan as it affects the industry.

In the budget, government is to increase duties on importation of rice, wheat and wheat flour while there will be reduction in duties on the importation of luxury buses, earth moving equipment, trucks etc.

Speaking on the budget proposal, founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniegbonam, noted that the decision is in the right direction.

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According to him, if the new policy is properly implemented, it will solve the problem of unemployment, safe foreign exchange for the nation and encourage local industrial growth.

He expressed happiness that government is not increasing the duties on the above items at once but intents to gradually increase it from next year until it gets to 100 percent by the end of 2012.

Similarly, he commended the decision to reduce duties on the importation of luxury buses, earth moving equipment, trucks etc. He observed that this would “enhance economic activities in the country.”

However, a freight forwarder, Adepoju Adeola, said that government should not have started the implementation immediately as the nation do not have the capacity to meet local consumption required. He noted that reduction of import duty of machinery is a step in the right director.

Similarly, General Manager in charge of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Michael Ajayi, told Vanguard that the decision of government is in the right direction and that it may not direct effect on the revenue of the authority.

Ajayi however explained that the proposal would no doubt have positive effect on the economy but stressed that it will be difficult to say immediately whether it would affect the authority’s revenue immediately.

He observed that high duty will translate to more revenue for NPA although the increase duty may lead to a lower volume of importation of these items. He noted that after the first quarter, they would then check their books to say for sure the affect of the new policy direction on their revenue collection.

Efforts to get the reaction of the head Public Affairs of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Lami Tumaka, proved abortive. Like-wise, Managing Director of Tentpeg Communications Network Limited, Goddy Ogheneajapor, commended the new policy director of government noting that it has the potential improving the production sector of the nation’s economy.

Ogheneajakpor however expressed worry about the sincerity and ability of government to effectively implement it The Tentpeg boss pointed out that government most ensure that it sticks to the policy and properly implement it has this would help reduce the level of unemployment in the country when the local industries becomes functional.