Three Major Oil Corporations Owe NIMASA $3.78billion Levies

House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration disclosed this on Wednesday, June 15, during a one-day investigative public hearing on revenue leakages and operational deficiencies in NIMASA.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago said 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.

While speaking before the committee, NIMASA’s Director-General, Dakuku Peterside,  gave reasons for the huge debt owed the agency.

According to him, the defaults on the three per cent 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 two perc ent 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.”

Meanwhile, the Reps committee has vowed to unveil owners of over 5300 defaulting companies, who it accused of depriving the country of the much needed revenue.