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…Shippers’ Council justifies action, seeks dialogue
By Steve Agbota
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council are on different sides of the aisle over recent tariff hikes at ports.
While the former has raised the alarm over the arbitrary charges imposed by shipping companies operating at the nation’s ports, the latter has justified it, it followed a rigorous review of industry indices and investments by shipping companies and terminal operators.
APFFLON issued a strong and urgent warning regarding the increase, describing it as a dangerous and economically destabilising development within Nigeria’s maritime regulatory space.
The association is was deeply alarmed by credible indications that the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council may have signalled support or encouragement to shipping companies to increase charges at Nigerian ports, an action APFFLON views as a direct affront to the Federal Government’s cost-reduction reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on behalf of the association, the National President of APFFLON, Frank Ogunojemite, described the development as deeply disturbing, economically dangerous and capable of eroding public confidence in the sincerity of ongoing port reforms.
“At a time when the Federal Government is aggressively pursuing policies to reduce the cost of doing business, stabilise inflation, and reposition Nigerian ports for competitiveness, any encouragement for shipping companies to increase charge amounts to economic sabotage,” he stated.
APFFLON warns that arbitrary charges by shipping companies or so-called operational adjustments will reverse recent gains made toward port cost rationalisation, escalate inflation and worsen the hardship faced by Nigerian citizens, cripple small and medium-scale importers and exporters, undermine Nigeria’s trade competitiveness within the West African sub-region and send negative signals to both local and foreign investors
The association emphasises that the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is to regulate and protect Nigerian shippers against exploitative shipping practices—not to create policy signals that embolden foreign shipping lines to impose additional financial burdens.
“APFFLON considers this development a matter of national economic security.
“If not urgently addressed, the ripple effects will extend beyond the ports, impacting manufacturing, agriculture, retail supply chains, and ultimately the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
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“The association therefore calls for immediate clarification from the leadership of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, urgent intervention by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the attention of the Presidency to investigate and ensure full alignment of maritime regulators the federalgovernment,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria cannot afford regulatory contradictions at a time of economic reform, saying every agency must align with the Federal Government’s strategic objective of reducing costs and promoting trade efficiency.
However, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah explained that since assuming office in 2023, the council had consistently resisted requests by shipping companies and terminal operators to increase their tariffs to protect port users and support the broader economy.
Akutah who was responding to the concerns by freight forwarders on its support for the tariff review, told journalists at the 2026 Strategic Management Retreat held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, that the council ensured that all tariff adjustment requests were toned down for nearly two years despite rising operational indices in the sector.
Akutah noted that the council eventually had to exercise its regulatory authority earlier this year after reviewing the financial records and investment levels of terminal operators and shipping companies.
He said that the council adopted a scientific approach by examining the books of operators to determine whether there was justification for a tariff adjustment before approving what he described as a marginal increment.
Akutah said the operators were directed to consult widely with their stakeholders before implementing the new charges.
The NSC boss said stakeholder engagements had been ongoing but noted that persistent deadlocks during discussions often delayed decision-making, adding that compromise from all parties was necessary for the sector to move forward.
Akutah urged shipping companies, terminal operators and freight forwarders to return to the negotiation table and resolve the dispute, warning that prolonged disagreements would force the Council to escalate the matter to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for final resolution.
“What is the point of having engagement when there is always a standstill and nobody moves? If you say that there is not going to be any increment in the charges, and at the end of the day the cost of operations has hindered them from carrying out their functions, then we will not have a maritime sector. So it’s a matter of not having a stand down all the time, but also giving some concessions so that we can move forward,” he said.
The development had earlier sparked complaints from freight forwarders and agents who issued warning over what the described as a dangerous and economically destabilising development within Nigeria’s maritime regulatory space.
