Apparently not pleased with what its members arepassing through in cargo supply chain, the 100 Percent Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has demanded the immediate cessation and refund of alleged illegal tolls and fees being collected from freight forwarders at some bonded terminals in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos.
NAGAFF In a demand notice dated August 6, 2026, and signed by the National Coordinator of the team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, NAGAFF alleged that as much as ₦178 million had been collected through charges imposed on imported containers at some bonded terminals.
The association specifically mentioned Sifax Terminal, Ijora, and Sifax Terminal, Okota, alleging that freight forwarders were being charged as much as ₦3,000 for a 20-foot container and ₦6,000 for a 40-foot container.
According to NAGAFF, the charges were allegedly being collected by the terminals in conjunction with some individuals said to be representing the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
It averred that the alleged charges were separate from statutory and regulatory fees payable to relevant government agencies, including the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the respective terminal operators.
The association said it had not been provided with evidence of any lawful authorisation, gazetted instrument, approved tariff or regulatory backing for the charges despite repeated requests from its members.
It described the alleged collections as unacceptable and argued that they could amount to a violation of applicable laws, including the Lagos State Illegal Collection of Dues in Public Places (Prohibition) Law 2003.
It argued that the charges lacked transparency, just as it noted that no regulatory approval, official receipts, published tariff or legal notice had allegedly been made available to those being asked to pay.
It also contended that the alleged fees could duplicate charges already payable under existing laws and regulations, while imposing additional financial burdens on freight forwarders and undermining trade facilitation.
Following the development, it has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the terminal managers to immediately stop the collection of the alleged tolls and fees.
It also demanded documentary evidence of the legal authority under which the charges were being imposed and collected, as well as the refund of all sums allegedly collected from its members.
It further demanded that the terminals provide a written proposal for reconciliation and refund within the same seven-day period.
NAGAFF warned that failure to comply could compel it to pursue available legal and regulatory remedies, including petitions to relevant government authorities and possible legal action.
The notice also contained a warning that NAGAFF could consider shutting down the affected bonded terminals if the alleged collections continued.
It however stated that such enforcement action would have to be pursued within the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
As part of its fact-checking claims, NAGAFF called for verification of relevant instruments from the office of the Managing Director of NPA.
It specifically referred to an alleged NPA port order prohibiting associations from collecting tolls within ports and terminal areas.
It also cited an alleged court order said to have been issued by Justice Mash of the Lagos High Court, which NAGAFF claimed restrained associations or individuals from compelling its members to pay such tolls.
It also said the referenced instruments should be obtained and examined to establish the legal position regarding the collection of association dues within port and terminal environments.
NAGAFF stressed that its demand was issued without prejudice to any other rights or remedies available to it and its members.
The demand notice which was made available to MARITIME BITS at the weekend was silent on the affected terminal operators and members of ANLCA involved in the Illegal collections.
The association said it expected the matter to be treated with urgency in the interest of sustainable freight forwarding practice, trade facilitation and the protection of freight forwarders from what it described as unauthorised financial burdens.
