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NSC Meets Stakeholders: No 30% Tariff Implementation Until Shippers, Freight Forwarders Have Their Say
NSC Meets Stakeholders, Draws Line in the Sand: No 30% Tariff Implementation Until Shippers, Freight Forwarders Have Their Say
By Ighoyota Onaibre |Waterways News Correspondent | Lagos
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) convened an urgent stakeholders’ forum in Lagos on Tuesday, drawing together shipping lines, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and trade associations in a high-stakes dialogue over the controversial 30 percent upward review of shipping tariffs — and laid down a clear condition: no implementation until industry-wide consultation is complete.
The forum, which comes weeks after the NSC suspended the planned tariff adjustment in March 2026, signals a calculated pivot by the Council away from unilateral action and towards a consultative path it hopes will prevent economic turbulence across Nigeria’s supply chain.
Speaking at the one-day engagement, NSC Executive Secretary Dr. Akutah Pius defended the March suspension as a deliberate and necessary move, not a retreat. He told stakeholders that the new tariff would only take effect after shipping companies had concluded direct talks with importers, clearing agents, and other critical players in the maritime value chain.
Crucially, Dr. Akutah stressed that the approved 30 percent figure represents a ceiling — not a mandatory rate — meaning shipping lines may apply lower increments of 10 or 20 percent depending on the outcome of their individual consultations. He added that implementation would be phased and gradual, not a sudden shock to trade.
“The 30 percent increase is the upper limit. Shipping companies may implement 10 or 20 percent depending on the outcome of their consultations. It will be gradual,” he said.
He also disclosed that tensions surrounding the tariff issue had been partly inflamed by the conduct of a specific operator — though he stopped short of naming the company — and reiterated that the adjustment was not designed to enable excessive profit-making but to sustain the viability of Nigeria’s shipping sector.
The NSC boss also revealed the scale of what shipping companies had originally demanded: increases ranging from 150 to 200 percent. The Council, he said, held the line at 30 percent as the most the economy could absorb without destabilising trade flows.
“Shipping companies argued that 30 percent is too low given inflation and rising operational costs, but we determined it was sufficient to avoid overburdening the economy,” he said.
Stakeholders Push Back — On Process, Not the Principle
The forum laid bare a critical distinction that has defined the dispute from the outset: industry players are not categorically opposed to a tariff increase, but they are incensed by how it was nearly implemented without their input.
Dr. Jamilu Umar, President of the National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria (NSAN), put it plainly: “We are not against the increase, but due process must be followed. There must be proper consultation, and all stakeholders must be carried along.”
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) echoed this position, urging that shipping companies be formally mandated to consult stakeholders before rolling out any adjustments — a call that underscores broader anxiety about the downstream impact on production costs and consumer prices.
Shipping Lines Also Feel the Squeeze
Boma Alabi, President of the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), offered a telling counterpoint, framing the industry’s position as one of financial necessity rather than opportunism. She noted that even the approved 30 percent falls far short of what operators require to remain viable.
“The 30 percent approved is not entirely commercial. We initially proposed over 100 percent, but this reflects current realities. Shipping companies are also contending with rising costs, including a minimum wage of N200,000 in the subsector,” she said.
Alabi called for sustained collaboration to build a maritime sector that is both competitive and financially sustainable over the long term.
Who Was in the Room
The meeting drew a broad cross-section of Nigeria’s maritime trade ecosystem, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics (APFFLON), the West Africa Exporters Association, and the Ndigbo Amaka Progressives Market Association.
What Comes Next
Tuesday’s forum appears to have bought the NSC crucial time and goodwill — but the pressure clock is running. Shipping companies and trade groups now face the task of translating consultation commitments into actual bilateral engagements, with the industry watching closely to see whether the NSC can hold the line on process before tariff increases begin to filter through to cargo costs at Nigeria’s ports.
For a maritime sector already navigating the headwinds of inflation, exchange rate pressure, and rising operational expenses, the coming weeks will test whether dialogue can deliver a workable outcome — or whether Nigeria’s trade corridors face another round of costly uncertainty.