NNPC owing NIMASA $4Billion Dollars

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,  the Pipeline Products Marketing Company and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. are jointly owing the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), almost $4 billion, it was revealed

The revelation came to light during a one - day investigative public hearing by the House committee on Maritime safety, Education and Administration on the revenue leakages and operational deficiencies in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA).

This is as the Reps committee vowed to unveil owners of over 5300 defaulting companies, who he said are depriving the country of the much needed revenue.

According to the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. mohammed Umaru Bago while the NNPC and PPMC are jointly owing NIMASA  $3 billion, NAPIMS is owing 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.

Hon. Dakuku Peterside, the Director- General of NIMASA while speaking before the committee gave reasons for huge debt owed the agency.

According to him, the defaults on the 3 percent levy on gross freight earning on in and outbound cargo " is due to double billing, disclaimed and disputed bills and actual debt."

He said no debts was supposed to have incurred on the 2 percent surcharge payment on contract sum on cabotage operating vessel. " 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 decline 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.

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, S. Zakari.

Zakari said the negative and reckless image of NIMASA under the last administration disturbed the Federal Government .

His words: "Mr. chairman, the negative image of the Agency consequent upon its actions, the present administration was disturbed that appropriate 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.

" in this regard, the first step by the Federal Government was the removal of the Director General of the agency and to cary out full investigation into all operations of NIMASA.

" The president has since appointed a new Director General for the agency, with a clear mandate to reposition, restructure and reform the agency.

"Furthermore, and arising from investigations which are ongoing, a number of the agency's top management and senior staff are either facing trial or are being investigated by relevant agencies..

" it is also noteworthy that Mr, President has since approved performance audit of the whole maritime agencies. This will e holistically address most of these issues and help to block most of the leakages."