Shippers, customs agents, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector have raised concerns over the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s (NSC) recent approval allowing shipping companies and terminal operators to increase tariffs. Industry sources warn that the move could push the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports to roughly 55 per cent higher than in other West African countries, up from the previously estimated 40 per cent gap.
Earlier, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, had confirmed that operating at Nigerian ports is currently 40 per cent more expensive than at neighboring West African ports.
According to stakeholders, the latest tariff approval directly contradicts the Federal Government’s goal of reducing port costs by at least 25 per cent to boost competitiveness, facilitate trade, and improve ease of doing business. They also questioned the effectiveness of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) partnership with the NSC in regulating port charges and protecting users.
Jonathan Nicol, former President of the Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS), criticised the government for approving successive hikes across port-related services without accounting for current economic realities. Nicol noted that shippers are already grappling with a 400 per cent increase in terminal and shipping charges, which has caused storage and terminal-related fees to spike by about 500 per cent of clearing costs. He added that unclear shipping line fees and delays due to documentation bottlenecks can add over N300,000 to clearing expenses, further escalating operational costs.
“The persistent cost increase has made business projections almost impossible,” Nicol said, highlighting that office rents alone have risen from N4–5 million per year to about N9–10 million. He warned that many importers may be forced out of business if the trend continues.
Similarly, Frank Ogunojemite, President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), said the NSC’s approval contravenes its mandate to regulate trade and protect port users’ interests. Ogunojemite warned that increasing tariffs at this critical time will further escalate costs, fuel inflation, encourage cargo diversion to neighboring countries, and undermine Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub.
Clinton Okoro, CEO of Globe Joy Investment Nigeria Limited, lamented that industry players are still recovering from the previous 400 per cent increment. He criticised unilateral decisions by service providers to implement new charges and warned that shippers, customs agents, and freight forwarders may shut down the ports if another tariff increase is imposed without proper consultation with stakeholders.
Industry experts are now calling on regulators to intervene and provide relief measures to ease the financial burden on port users while ensuring that Nigeria remains competitive in the West African maritime landscape.
