Clearing Agents Kick As Shipping Lines Defy Shippers’ Council, Raise Charges

Foreign Shipping companies operating at the nation’s seaports have reportedly increased their charges despite a directive by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) suspending any tariff adjustments.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the Council had earlier directed shipping companies and their agents to suspend and refrain from implementing any review or upward adjustment of charges until they had fully engaged relevant stakeholders.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, had made it clear that the regulator would not tolerate arbitrary or unilateral tariff reviews by shipping service providers.

“The Council will not tolerate arbitrary or unilateral review of tariffs by shipping service providers,” Akutah stated, warning that any operator found wanting would face regulatory consequences.

He further stressed that the Council is empowered under its statutory mandate to apply appropriate sanctions against defaulting operators.

Despite the directive, clearing agents have raised concerns over what they described as fresh increments by some shipping lines, alleging that stakeholders were neither consulted nor formally notified.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the National President of the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, alleged that major international shipping lines had adjusted their charges.

“Shipping companies such as Pacific International Lines (PIL), MSC, CMA CGM and Maersk Line, among others, have gone ahead to increase their charges despite the Council’s directive,” Ogunojemite alleged.

He described the move as a direct disregard for regulatory authority and stakeholder engagement.

“We were neither contacted nor engaged before these increments were introduced. This is unacceptable and contrary to the directive of the Shippers’ Council,” he said.

Ogunojemite warned that clearing agents would resist the increments if they are not reversed.

“If these charges are not withdrawn, we will not hesitate to mobilise our members to picket the affected shipping companies. We cannot continue to bear arbitrary costs that ultimately get passed on to importers and the Nigerian economy,” he declared.

He also disclosed that the increment was against the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Industry stakeholders have expressed concerns that the continued rise in shipping charges could further increase the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports and exacerbate inflationary pressures in the broader economy.