NPA tax Barge operators, levies to be in foreign currencies

By Mitchelle Uzorka

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has imposed fresh levies and dues on barge operators as part of measures to boost its revenue profile.

The levies and dues will commence next month and the operators are to pay in United States dollar.

A breakdown of the rates on consignments includes: a 40ft container will attract $28 per unit for empty, while dry cargo will attract $2.57 per ton.

Vehicles will attract between $45, $46 and $61, depending on the sizes, while liquid and dry bulk will attract $1.46 per ton and general cargo has $2 per ton.

Barge operator, Kelvin Okechukwu, who also owns a truck, explained that the law of demand and supply has played a dominant role in the sharp drop in barge patronage, adding that waterways transportation of consignments is facing “all-time low activities”.