Business
2024: Nigerian Ports Need New Economic Policy Reforms – Shipper
A shipper, Rev. Jonathan Nicole, says the nation’s ports need drastic economic policy reforms in 2024 to be more viable and competitive.
Nicole disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
Nicole, a former President, Shippers Association of Lagos State, called for the restructuring of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He added that government agencies not needed in the port should return to their various ministries.
Nicole also urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, to work towards achieving this feat.
“The restructuring of the MDAs would bring dramatic progress into the port.
“The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority has also called for the reduction of the MDAs in the port.
“We agree with them. They are the owners of the port and they know those that are relevant in dealing with port issues.
“Shippers associations across the country will offer their support to the introduction of a new Port Order and restructuring of the method of rules of engagement into the sector.
“The informal sector of the economy should be encouraged,” he said.
Nicole described the present situation as pathetic, adding that most importers had lost their properties used in securing bank loans.
He attributed their failure to repay the loans to policy somersaults.
Nicole said the maritime sector was pioneered by traders, importers and exporters as well as manufacturers.
He noted that the 2023 was characterised by outrageous taxes and duties due to targets given to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Nicole added that the fluctuation in foreign exchange rate affected importers and manufacturers grossly in 2023.
“Cost of clearing skyrocketed to a strangulating proportion. Some importers abandoned their goods due to inability to raise additional funds to meet choking demands.
“The 400 per cent increase in terminal charge is another herculean challenge for shippers depending on the volume of cargo involved.
“We are hopeful as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council executive secretary settles down, an equitable price regime will be re-introduced to replace the current system,” he said.
He noted that with the high cost of doing business in the port, importers had no choice than to either continue or relocate to a more sane environment.
“The moment some of these obstacles and pressures are eliminated, the industry would flourish and become highly competitive,” he said.
He listed some of the abnormal pressures as high cost of diesel and fuel, tax regimes, introduction of tax returns, closure of small and medium businesses by the Corporate Affairs Commission and unrealistic tax reforms.
Others, according to him, are reduction in terminal charges and shipping costs, reduction in customs duty tariffs, costs of haulage of goods, and total stoppage of closure of ports due to unnecessary industrial activities, among others.(NAN
The Senate has passed two out of four major tax reform bills, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing overhaul of the nation’s tax administration framework.
The two bills, one seeking to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and another to establish the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill 2025 along with the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill 2025, were passed following a clause-by-clause consideration during the Committee of the Whole and their subsequent third reading on the Senate floor.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in October 2024 transmitted the four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
However, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the progress, expressing optimism that the reform bills would not only enhance governance but also revolutionise tax collection and distribution across the country.
“These bills will add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected and shared in Nigeria,” he said.
He further assured that the remaining two bills would be finalised tomorrow (Thursday), even if it required extended sitting hours.
“We are committed to concluding the outstanding bills tomorrow, even if we have to stay here until 10 p.m.,” Akpabio said.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, says Nigeria has lost over N1.3 billion to the outbreak of Tuta absoluta, a tomato-destroying pest commonly known as tomato ebola, in three states.
Speaking on Wednesday at a capacity-building workshop for financial institutions in Abuja, Kyari said the losses were recorded in Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
He said the outbreak had triggered a sharp increase in the price of tomatoes — with the cost of a 50-kilogram (kg) basket rising from N5,000 to as high as N30,000 — further compounding food inflation and putting pressure on household budgets.
The minister described Tuta absoluta as a fast-spreading invasive pest capable of wiping out entire tomato fields within 48 hours, stressing that the incident exposed the vulnerability of the country’s horticultural systems.
According to Kyari, the crisis underscores the pressing need for effective pest control measures, investment in resilient crop varieties, and stronger support systems for farmers to protect Nigeria’s food supply chains.
“Tomatoes and peppers, essential ingredients in virtually every Nigerian kitchen, serve as baseline commodities for daily cooking,” he said.
“When the prices of these staples spike, they set off a chain reaction that affects the cost of meals across homes, restaurants and food vendors.
“According to the 2024 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) tomatoes led the food price index with a staggering 320 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by peppers and other produce.
“These spikes disproportionately affect low-income households, underlining the urgent need for more stable production, better storage and accessible finance across the horticulture value chain.”
Kyari described horticulture as the “sleeping giant” of Nigerian agriculture and called for urgent efforts to unlock its full potential through sustainable financing.
He explained that horticulture — which includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and ornamentals — holds far-reaching benefits beyond food production.
The minister said it is a dynamic engine for rural transformation, job creation, improved nutrition and trade diversification.
”With increasing urbanisation and growing awareness of healthy diets, consumer demand for fresh and diverse produce is rising rapidly. Horticulture is well-positioned to meet this demand,” he added.
Despite the challenges in the horticulture sector, Kyari said it remains one of the most promising frontiers for agricultural transformation, offering higher value per hectare, shorter production cycles, and multiple annual harvests ideal for smallholder commercialisation.
He added that the sector offers high employment potential throughout the year, particularly for women and young people, and is closely connected to processing, packaging, retail, and export markets.
“The sector also offers climate resilience through protected cultivation and irrigation systems, urban food access through peri-urban farming and logistics integration,” he said.
“Horticulture is a high-impact, high-return opportunity sitting at the intersection of agriculture, health, industry, and trade.”
The minister outlined the sector’s major contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, including the diversification of production and income sources, improved food and nutrition security, and job creation with youth involvement.
Kyari also highlighted its role in reducing import dependence, boosting export potential, enhancing climate resilience, and strengthening access to urban markets.
“Crops like tomatoes, pineapples, cucumbers, citrus and plantains have huge domestic demand and are increasingly becoming important commercial crops,” Kyari said.
“On food and nutrition security, horticultural crops are rich sources of vitamins A, C, iron, zinc, and folate nutrients vital for child development, maternal health and disease prevention.
“Scaling up their production and affordability is key to ending malnutrition in all its forms.”
Kyari urged financial institutions to better understand the horticulture value chain — from seed to shelf — and to move beyond generic lending and develop tailored products that aligned with the specific stages of the value chain.
The minister also urged them to develop fit-for-purpose financial products, including seasonal credit lines, equipment leasing, invoice discounting, and trade financing.
The naira yesterday depreciated to N1, 610 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,605 per dollar on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Naira depreciated to N1,612 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).
Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN showed that the exchange rate for the naira rose to N1,612 per dollar from N1,609 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating a N4 depreciation for the naira.
Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate narrowed to N3 per dollar from N4 per dollar on Tuesday.