NPA Must Account For CTN Proceeds —Stakeholders

Maritime stakeholders have called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to render an account of the proceeds that have accrued to Cargo Tracking Note (CTN).

Their clamour followed the scrapping of the payment system by the Federal Government. The abolition of the controversial charge regime was announced by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala in Lagos last week as part of comprehensive measures to free the port system from extortion, corruption and arbitrary charges in order to stimulate the economy.

Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) was surreptitiously introduced in January 2010 into the port payment regime, despite public outcry against it.

The programme was championed by the NPA which rationalised its introduction on security of cargo.

The NPA, as an implementing agency for the programme, contracted a Belgian-based company, Transport and Port Management Service (TPMS) as its sole representative to collect the fee.

The regime of fees is to be paid on Nigerian-bound cargo at the port of loading while a CTN number will be issued.

The document fee for loading ports in Europe and Africa attracts Euro 50 per CTN  and one CTN is to be issued for each Bill of Lading . For shipments from loading ports other than Europe and Africa, a fee of Euro 70 is charged.

It is estimated that 10 billion Euro (N2.1trillion) will accrue to the regime annually which will be shared between the Federal Government as represented by NPA and the consultant on 60-40 basis.