By Godwin Oritse

Lagos—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.

According to the committee chaired by Mr Mohammed Umar Bago, the amount of money lost in the sector is about $10 billion.

The committee said the affected companies would respond to questions relating to 3% freight levy, 2% Cabotage surcharge, sea protection levy, stevedoring, among others.

It said the process that led to the revenue leakages was benchmark approach, as opposed to actual freight charges in the determination of the 3%, midstream clearance and discharge of cargo vessels, among others.