By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has openly criticised the Managing Director of Mediterranean Shipping Company Nigeria, Jake Iosso, over his remarks referencing the controversial 4 percent Free On Board (FOB) charge during a heated engagement with freight forwarders.
The Western Zone Coordinator of ANLCA, Femi Anifowose, described Iosso’s comments as provocative and disconnected from the operational realities confronting port users. According to him, the situation escalated when the MSC boss cited the 4 percent FOB charge as a basis for defending recent tariff increases.
Earlier in the meeting, ANLCA’s National Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Onyeme, had accused MSC Nigeria of placing profit above service delivery, alleging that the company had failed to address critical challenges facing freight forwarders and truck operators.
Onyeme questioned whether the company’s leadership had firsthand knowledge of the worsening logistics situation around the ports, particularly the persistent delays in container drop-offs and the congestion caused by empty containers littering access roads. He stressed that while operators are being compelled to generate revenue for shipping firms, their operational difficulties remain largely ignored.
Responding, Iosso maintained that freight forwarders did not stage protests when the Nigeria Customs Service implemented a 4 percent increase in FOB values, suggesting inconsistency in their reactions. He further advised dissatisfied stakeholders to explore alternatives among competing shipping lines, likening the sector to the competitive structure of the telecommunications industry.
However, Anifowose, speaking with journalists after the meeting, faulted the comparison, insisting that a private firm cannot equate its pricing decisions with government-imposed policies. He argued that while the FOB charge was introduced as part of a broader fiscal reform by customs authorities, MSC’s tariff adjustments were purely commercial and profit-driven.
He noted that the comment angered participants and contributed significantly to the breakdown of discussions, as many stakeholders perceived it as an attempt to justify higher charges by shifting responsibility to government policy.
Anifowose further criticised the suggestion that freight forwarders could simply switch service providers, describing it as dismissive and insensitive to the complexities of the maritime sector. He warned that such decisions would ultimately translate into higher costs of goods for Nigerian consumers.
Despite the disagreement, ANLCA reaffirmed its commitment to resisting unjustified tariff increases. The association also commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for intervening and directing an immediate suspension of newly introduced tariffs by shipping companies.
