Blue Economy
NSC Calls Emergency Truce Meeting With Shipping Lines, Freight Forwarders Over Rejected 30% Tariff Hike
NSC Calls Emergency Truce Meeting With Shipping Lines, Freight Forwarders Over Rejected 30% Tariff Hike
By Okeoghene Onoriobe, Waterways News Correspondent
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has summoned shipping companies and port stakeholders — particularly freight forwarders — to an urgent dialogue session over the controversial 30% increase in shipping tariffs that was fiercely rejected across the maritime sector and subsequently withdrawn.
In a weekend notification, the Council confirmed the high-stakes meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at its headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, beginning at 11:00am.
The Council’s invitation described the engagement as a follow-up to a directive it issued on March 20, 2026, noting that the session was triggered by mounting concerns raised by key players in the maritime and logistics sector.
“In the spirit of fairness, transparency, and industrial harmony, the Council seeks to provide a platform for dialogue aimed at achieving consensus among all parties,” the notice stated.
The NSC also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a cooperative environment that drives sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and trust across the sector, urging all invited parties to participate “actively and constructively.”
The 30% tariff increment had drawn sharp backlash from freight forwarders and other port stakeholders, forcing the Council to put the policy on hold pending wider consultation.
Tuesday’s engagement at the NSC Training Room in Apapa will be the first formal face-to-face between the Council and stakeholders since the fallout — and industry watchers say the outcome could shape the future of cargo handling costs at Nigerian ports.