House of Representatives has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the NNPC were owing the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) $3.78 billion.
The House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration disclosed this last week during a one-day investigative public hearing on revenue leakages and operational deficiencies in NIMASA.
The Committee also disclosed that there were over 5300 defaulting companies and it promised to unveil the owners of the defaulting companies soonest, accusing them of depriving the nation of the much needed revenue.
Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, the Chairman of the Committee stated that while the NNPC and PPMC jointly owe NIMASA $3 billion, NAPIMS owes the agency $780 million out of the alleged $10 billion owed the agency.
The debts are defaults on sundry charges and levies meant to be paid to NIMASA over a 10-year period.
According to NIMASA’s Director-General, Dakuku Peterside, the reasons for the huge debt were the defaults on the 3% levy on gross freight earning on in and outbound cargoes due to double billing, disclaimed and disputed bills and actual debt.
He said no debt was supposed to have been incurred on the 2% surcharge payment on contract sum on Cabotage operating vessels.
“The debt under the ship- to- ship (STS) is a deliberate attempt by companies not to pay non-remittance by international oil companies to the agency.”
On the actual total figure owed the agency, Peterside declined to mention a figure saying he would not want to give an offhand answer, but one based on realistic calculations, which he would send to the committee.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Transport Ministry, S. Zakari who represented the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, said that the negative image of NIMASA under the last administration disturbed the Federal Government.
“Mr. Chairman, the negative image of the Agency consequent upon its actions, the present administration was disturbed that necessary measures were put in place to amongst others, verify the petitions and allegations of unwholesome reckless management of financial and human resources in the agency.
He also stated that the President had approved performance audit of the whole maritime agencies in order to holistically address most of the issues of leakages.
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