The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team has petitioned the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) over what it described as the arbitrary and unilateral increase in shipping charges by some shipping companies in the country.
It warned that if the management of NSC failed to act promptly and reverse the arbitrary hike in shipping charges, it could trigger industrial action at the nation’s seaports and border posts.
In a letter addressed to NSC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah and signed by its National Coordinator, Hon. Ibrahim Tanko, the team accused some shipping lines of implementing immediate upward reviews of tariffs without due consultation with stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy.
According to the petition which was sighted by Maritime Bits, the NAGAFF task team described the development as an “administrative overreach” and a breach of established procedures guiding maritime and logistics charges.
It maintained that the increments were introduced without transparency, prior notification to affected service users, or adherence to statutory frameworks regulating tariffs in the maritime sector, among other anomalies.
It argued that such adjustments ordinarily require economic impact assessments, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory review before implementation.
Continuing, it said: “The current increase is deemed arbitrary as it lacks the requisite justification usually provided through economic impact assessments, stakeholder engagement, and consultation.”
It also alleged that the action bypassed procedural fairness and failed to follow a transparent review process involving relevant regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders.
It warned that the move could disrupt the delicate balance of the port supply chain and undermine the rights of consignees and freight forwarders operating within the system.
The freight forwarders also accused the Shipping Companies Association of Nigeria (SCAN) of failing to honour its earlier commitment to consult stakeholders before implementing any increase in shipping-related charges.
“By bypassing the mandatory channels of approval, the shipping companies involved risk undermining the stability of the maritime and trade environment and could be in violation of competition and consumer protection regulations,” it added.
In the same vein, the taskforce warned that continued enforcement of the disputed charges could lead to formal complaints to maritime authorities and possible industrial action.
It specifically threatened picketing and the sealing of affected shipping lines if the increments are not suspended without further delay.
Its words: “Take further notice that this serves as a formal caution to the shipping companies concerned. The continued enforcement of these unauthorized charges may lead to formal grievances, picketing, industrial action, or the sealing of affected shipping lines on Monday, March 9, 2026.”
It called for the immediate suspension or reversal of the charges pending what it called “a transparent and consultative review” involving all stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy.
In order to put the authorities on notice, copies of the petition were also sent to some heads of selected law enforcement agencies. These include the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command and the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Apapa Command, Lagos State.
Maritime Bits checks revealed NSC is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It provides forum for the protection of the interest of shippers on matters affecting the shipment of imports and exports to and from Nigeria. It is under the supervision of Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Its focus is on the importing and exporting of cargo with regards to port-to-port shipment through the chain of transportation.
