Shippers’ Council Decries Foreign Shipping Lines’ Peak Season Surcharges On Africa-bound Cargoes

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has expressed deep concern over the imposition of Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) and other arbitrary fees by foreign shipping companies on cargoes destined for Africa.

Speaking at the two-day Sub-Regional Seminar and Meeting of the Standing Committee on Trade and Transport under the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) in Lagos, the executive secretary of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, said such surcharges pose serious threats to trade competitiveness across the continent.

The event, themed “The Readiness of Countries of West and Central Africa in the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA—The Role of Shippers’ Councils,” aimed to strengthen regional cooperation to harness Africa’s combined market of over 1.4 billion people and a GDP exceeding $3 trillion.

Dr. Akutah underscored the vital role of Shippers’ Councils in advancing West and Central Africa’s readiness for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing the need for collective action to ensure equitable shipping practices.

“We are equally concerned about the recent issue of peak season surcharges and other arbitrary charges imposed by shipping lines,” he said.

“These surcharges have serious implications for trade competitiveness in West and Central Africa. I believe that through constructive engagement at this forum, we can develop a unified regional position that promotes fairness, transparency, and sustainability in shipping practices.”

The NSC boss noted that Shippers’ Councils across the region must act as both advocates for shippers and regulators ensuring fair competition and efficient cross-border trade.

He added that the Council is implementing strategic policies to boost port efficiency, encourage multimodal transport, and facilitate the development of inland dry ports and logistics hubs — all part of efforts to enhance Nigeria’s preparedness for the AfCFTA and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

“As the Port Economic Regulator, the NSC continues to drive reforms to make our ports more efficient and trade-friendly,” Akutah stated.

In his remarks, Abdurahman Kafougou, secretary general of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC), commended the NSC for hosting the event and for its proactive approach to supporting regional shippers.

He urged African Shippers’ Councils to leverage the AfCFTA to reduce logistics costs and delivery times by effectively applying Incoterms 2020 and improving access to trade information.

Kafougou further advocated the establishment of unified information platforms and border-based data centres to assist shippers, while calling for the admission of new members to strengthen the UASC.

The seminar brought together freight forwarders, port administrators, customs officials, shippers’ associations, and truck operators, among others.