NSC Orders Shipping Firms, Terminal Operators to Suspend Port Charge Increases

NSC Orders Shipping Firms, Terminal Operators to Suspend Port Charge Increases

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has directed shipping companies, shipping agents and terminal operators to immediately suspend all reviews or increases in port charges, in a move aimed at restoring stability, preventing disruptions, and ensuring transparent engagement with stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The directive was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Mr. Pius Akutah, through the council’s Head of Public Relations, Mrs. Rebecca Adamu.

Mr. Akutah stated that no new tariff adjustments should be implemented until meaningful consultations with relevant stakeholders are concluded, stressing that compliance is mandatory for all service providers operating in Nigerian ports.

He explained that recent port tariff reviews carried out by the council were conducted strictly within its statutory mandate as the Port Economic Regulator, following transparent and structured regulatory procedures.

“All tariff reviews conducted were transparent, structured, and followed a well-defined regulatory process,” Akutah said, noting that the process involved technical assessments and consultative engagements to evaluate cost drivers, operational realities, investment commitments, and regulatory compliance.

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He clarified that such consultations did not translate to automatic approval of new charges, adding that final decisions were reached only after rigorous technical, financial and economic assessments, guided by empirical data, regulatory benchmarks and prevailing economic conditions.

“Notwithstanding these processes, shipping companies, agents and terminal operators are hereby directed to suspend any intended review of charges until proper stakeholder engagement has been conducted,” he said.

The NSC boss warned that the council would not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against any service provider found disrupting port operations, emphasising that the council has full authority under existing laws to enforce compliance.

“Transparency, fairness and stakeholder participation remain the core principles of port economic regulation in Nigeria,” Akutah said, reassuring port users and operators of the council’s commitment to fair competition, stakeholder protection and a stable business environment.

He added that the NSC is empowered to apply sanctions, including enforcement measures provided under relevant regulatory frameworks, against defaulting operators.

The directive followed protests on Monday by members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and other freight forwarders, who shut down the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) office in Apapa over increased charges.

The protests were triggered by recent adjustments, including an increase in import documentation fees for 20-foot containers from ₦45,000 to ₦58,500 and 40-foot containers from ₦72,000 to ₦93,600. Additional port charges also rose from ₦50,000 to ₦80,000 for 20-foot containers and from ₦100,000 to ₦160,000 for 40-foot containers.

According to the NSC, the intervention is aimed at ensuring fair consultation, preventing further disruption of port activities, and maintaining harmony in port operations while balancing the interests of service providers and port users.

NSC Orders Shipping Firms, Terminal Operators to Suspend Port Charge Increases