The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has strongly criticized the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) over its approval of a terminal charge increase by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT).
The association described the move as detrimental to Nigeria’s economic growth and competitiveness of its ports.
Speaking at a press briefing at the association’s headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, APFFLON President, Mr Frank Ogunojemite, accused the NSC of failing in its role as an economic regulator, arguing that the approval of the charge hike contradicts federal government’s efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Ogunojemite highlighted that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Mr Adegboyega Oyetola had assured stakeholders that the implementation of the national single window policy would reduce logistics costs by at least 25%.
However, Ogunojemite noted that by endorsing a 100% increase in terminal charges at WACT, the NSC appears to be working against this policy direction. He stated that, “this increase is not just an economic burden on freight forwarders, but an outright sabotage of Nigeria’s trade objectives.”
According to APFFLON, the association had written to the NSC on March 4 to protest the proposed increase, warning of its potential negative impact on trade and logistics costs. He alleged that the letter was ignored. Ogunojemite criticized what he described as NSC’s lack of responsiveness to industry concerns, stating that, “if the NSC continues to endorse such hikes, it raises serious questions about its commitment to protecting Nigerian businesses and consumers.”
The APFFLON president further linked the NSC’s handling of the WACT tariff increase to concerns over its ability to manage critical regulatory initiatives such as the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN). He expressed doubts about the NSC’s readiness to effectively oversee the ICTN, which is designed to enhance cargo monitoring and curb revenue leakages.
Beyond WACT’s charges, Ogunojemite also accused the NSC of allowing excessive holiday and weekend charges imposed by terminal operators, which he described as a major factor driving up port costs. “We have repeatedly urged the NSC to exercise its regulatory authority to curb these arbitrary fees, but they have consistently failed to act,” he said.
The APFFLON leader also dismissed claims that freight forwarding associations must be introduced by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) before engaging with the NSC on regulatory matters. He emphasized that APFFLON is a pressure group, not an agent under CRFFN, and insisted that freight forwarders and other stakeholders have the right to challenge unfair charges.
Stakeholders have long raised concerns over WACT’s pricing structure, given its dominant position at the Onne port in Rivers state, where it has operated for over 40 years. Many see the latest tariff increase as excessive, especially in light of similar hikes in previous years.
Ogunojemite also questioned the fairness of CRFFN’s registration process for associations, which he said is subject to renewal every six months. He called for greater transparency and consistency in the regulatory framework governing freight forwarders in Nigeria.
The APFFLON president concluded with a call for immediate government intervention to halt the tariff increase, warning that if left unchecked, it could escalate inflation, reduce trade volumes, and weaken Nigeria’s position in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He hinted at escalating the matter to the Senate Committee on Maritime Affairs and other relevant government bodies, if the NSC does not reverse its decision.
“Nigeria’s ports should be positioned for global competitiveness, not bogged down by arbitrary charges. The NSC should focus on policies that enhance efficiency and affordability, rather than supporting increases that hurt the industry,” he argued.
