INTELS panics over diversion of oil-related cargo by importers

—says action is illegal and economic sabotage.

FUNSO OLOJO

As the irate importers and their agents make good their threat to divert oil and gas-related cargo to the neibouring country, the Integrated logistics Nigeria Limited(INTELS), the operators of oil and gas terminal in Onne, Warri and Calabar ports, have raised alarm over the grave economic consequences the action may have on the country.

It would be recalled that at the twilight of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, he directed that all oil and gas related cargo must be taken to the terminals designated to handle such specialized cargo.

This directive drew the indignation  of other terminal operators who  regarded the directive as an avenue to give undue monopoly ti INTELS, whose terminal are the designated facilities to handle such cargo.

In solidarity with the distraught terminal operators who were unsettled by the directives, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) declared that its members would obey the presidential directives in the breach.

The National President of the association,PrinceOlayiwolaShittu, had declared that freight forwarders will rather than obey the presidential order, divert their oil and gas cargo to the neigbouring port from where they would be brought to the country.

The ANLCA boss, who decried government’s moves to grant such monopoly, said that he would instruct his members and principals who handle oil and gas cargoes to henceforth direct their vessels to boycott all Intels’ controlled seaports, unless the directive was reversed.

He described the action of government as ”irresponsible”, saying that “what they are doing is creating a monopoly that is anti-people, and not in the interest of the economy”.

“Everybody should have a choice of where they want to take their cargoes to. The government concessioned the ports, all of them (concessionaires) signed the same documents. Why do you have to force people to take their cargo to Intels…so that they can charge them in dollars, and not only that, their charges are 300 times more than regular charges in other ports”.

“We have started our campaign also to call for the boycott of all Intels’ ports facilities. In addition, we are prepared to take our oil and gas goods through Cotonou. If that discrimination is going to happen, then we go through the border.

“It is very unfortunate because Intels have been a problem and it is like a country, a sovereign of its own. That is because the promoters are holding the jugular of the government and Nigerians. It is very unfortunate”.

However, a legal practitioner, Mr John Ikezugo has claimed that the diversion of Nigerian bound vessels carrying oil and gas cargo to any other country or designated port terminals for discharge is illegal and an economic sabotage.

Ikezugo made the statement in Abuja in reaction to the threat made by the importers and their agents which investigations revealed that they have already started to carry out.

“There is no legal or administrative basis for diversion of Nigerian bound cargoes away from oil and gas designated terminals in Nigeria. If the report is correct, then the action of those involved amounts to economic sabotage.

“Even the interim injunctions granted in the Ports and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited (PTOL) and the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) cases have expired by operation of the law,” he said.

It will be recalled that some companies that have refused to comply with the Federal Government directive issued in April this year that owners of private jetties should discharge oil and gas vessels at designated terminals have resorted to all sorts of tactics to operate from their comfort zones.

A top official of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the subject also agreed that the illegality of diverting oil and gas cargoes meant for discharge at Nigerian ports amounts to economic sabotage.

The official, however, confirmed that the authority is going ahead with the implementation of handling of all oil and gas related cargoes at designated terminals.

According to Ikezugo, “it is perhaps the fact of the continued implementation that has led to the alleged protest.

“The status quo, in all respects, even with respect to the cases in court is that NPA is free to continue with the implementation of the policy pending the outcome of the applications in court for interlocutory injunctions which are yet to be argued.”

Also speaking, a maritime expert, KolawoleOlatunbosun, said that the decision of the importers to divert Nigeria bound oil and gas cargo is a dangerous dimension to the defiance of the affected operators in resisting the implementation of Federal Government’s directive which in itself constitutes economic sabotage.

“This is very unfair to the regime of President MuhammaduBuhari who is pushing for more funds for development programs in Nigeria. I do not see how he will condone this illegality by importers,” Olatunbosun said.

He said that the argument by the importers that they were shunning designated ports in the country because of arbitrary charges on services is just untrue, querying “how much do they save by diverting their cargoes?”

“They are fighting what they call a monopoly created by the designation of terminals and the directive to discharge their cargoes at designated ports.

“The point is that there are ports for certain types of cargo. While some ports charge less for lighter cargoes, heavier and complicated cargoes which call for more sophisticated handling are more expensive to clear.

“Some importers prefer to take the risk of discharging their oil and gas cargo at cheaper rates in non-designated ports rather than at the appropriate terminals and this causes a huge revenue loss to government.

“Government loses $4.4 million US Dollars per tonne of oil and gas cargo not discharged at the designated terminal,” he said.

He advised affected importers to channel their oil and gas cargo to the appropriate ports pending when the federal government addresses their grievances.