The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has again urged shipping companies operating at the nation’s seaports to consult widely with relevant stakeholders before effecting any review of charges and tariffs.
The call was made by the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr Pius Akutah, at a stakeholders’ meeting on the review of charges by shipping companies and other service providers, which brought together clearing agents, importers and freight forwarders on Wednesday at the Council’s headquarters in Lagos. Dr Akutah was represented at the meeting by the Director of Consumer Affairs, Mrs Ify Okolue.
According to him, effective stakeholder engagement remains central to maintaining order within the port system, aligning Nigeria’s ports with global best practices and protecting the interests of port users as well as the wider economy.
Dr Akutah explained that the core mandate of the Shippers’ Council is to ensure fairness, efficiency and balance within the port environment, stressing that this includes shielding port users from arbitrary, unjustified or anti-competitive charges.
“Our responsibility is not only to ensure that service providers operate within an economically justifiable framework, but also to protect port users from arbitrary or unjustified charges. In carrying out this mandate, the Council is guided by due process, transparency, stakeholder consultation and the overriding national interest,” he said.
He added that inclusive regulation remains the most effective approach, noting that the engagement provided an avenue for all parties to express their views, seek clarity on regulatory decisions and jointly explore sustainable solutions.
“Regulation works best when it is inclusive. This engagement allows us to listen to stakeholders’ perspectives, clarify the basis of regulatory decisions, address misconceptions where they exist and collectively identify solutions that are fair, sustainable and beneficial to all,” he stated.
While acknowledging the current economic pressures facing operators, including foreign exchange constraints and inflation, Dr Akutah stressed the need to balance cost recovery with the protection of port users and national trade objectives.
“The Council is mindful of prevailing economic realities and the need to keep Nigerian ports competitive within the sub-region. However, cost recovery by service providers must not translate into excessive burdens on port users or undermine the country’s trade and economic goals,” he said.
He described the meeting as a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the Nigerian port system, emphasising that the Council remains open to dialogue in the pursuit of equity, regulatory integrity and the long-term sustainability of the maritime industry.
Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN); the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Maritime and Freight Forwarders Unit; the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF); the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA); and the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics (APFFLON).
