*The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency says it reduces the offshore cargo handling, operations and stevedoring rates which are applicable to dry bulk cargo and liquid bulk cargo among others to alleviate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerian consumers

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In furtherance of the agency’s efforts at mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerian consumers, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has disclosed it reduced the offshore cargo handling, operations and stevedoring rates in the country.

ConsumerConnect learnt Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, Director-General of NIMASA, stated this development Sunday, December 19, in Lagos, said that the latest reduction in rates would be for a period of six months.

However, the NIMASA Director-General did not give exact rates of reduction in the regulatory agency’s service charges at the Nigerian ports, said agency report.

The NIMASA Chief said: “The idea is to make this unpleasant pandemic moment as friendly as possible to both businesses and the economy in general.

“We are aware of the adverse effect of COVID-19 on business globally; how it has distorted business plans and skyrocketed costs in various sectors, particularly, the petroleum industry.”

Dr. Jamoh also noted: “In NIMASA, we have a strategic plan to make the best of the bad situation, which we have continued to implement.”

According to him, the renewal of the reviewed stevedoring rates was in line with the agency’s determination to make the best of a bad situation occasioned by the pandemic.

Jamoh as well said that the reviewed stevedoring rates apply to dry bulk cargo, liquid bulk cargo, onshore stevedoring, and offshore royalty.