APFFLON Urges Presidency to Address Incessant Shipping Charges Increase

Despite the directive by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to all shipping lines to suspend the increase in their charges, the Africa Association of Professionals Freight Forwarders and Logistics (APFFLON) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address persistent increases in shipping charges and other tariffs.

The National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, said the association chose to call on the Presidency believing that it would handle the matter better than going through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

At the national secretarial of APFFLON at Ikeja on Tuesday, the APFFLON President, who shared a copy of the APFFLON letter to President Bola Ahmed, said the NSC directive was not enough to put an end to the problem but rather an intervention by the Presidency.

Ogunojemite pointed out that the increase poses significant, far-reaching implications on the national economy, trade competitiveness, inflationary pressures, and the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

The letter is titled “APFFLON’S Concern over the Incessant Approval of Shipping and Terminal Operators’ Charges by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and its Adverse Implications on the National Economy.”

The letter reads thus: On behalf of the Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), and in my capacity as its National President, I respectfully write to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the growing concern within the maritime and logistics sector over the frequent approvals of increased charges by shipping companies and terminal operators, as endorsed by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC).

“Your Excellency, these approvals are being granted without adequate consideration of their far-reaching implications on the national economy, trade competitiveness, inflationary pressures, and the cost of doing business in Nigeria. This development clearly runs contrary to the avowed agenda of the Federal Government to reduce the cost of port operations, enhance ease of doing business, and position Nigerian ports as competitive hubs within the sub-region.

“The continued escalation of port charges has placed an unbearable burden on importers, exporters, freight forwarders, manufacturers, and ultimately Nigerian consumers. It has also contributed to cargo diversion to the neighboring countries, loss of government revenue, and a weakening of confidence in Nigeria’s maritime regulatory framework.
“We are further compelled to note, with deep concern, that this apparent compromise in regulatory oversight coincided with the period when the leadership of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council shifted from the tradition way of appointing seasoned professionals from within the organization—such as the exemplary tenure of Barrister Hassan Bello—to appointments from outside the institution. This departure from institutional continuity appears to have weakened the Council’s resolve to firmly protect shippers and the national interest, as originally mandated by its establishing Act.

“Your Excellency, APFFLON firmly believes that the Nigeria Shippers’ Council should function as a true economic regulator and protector of shippers, not merely as an approval channel for cost increases proposed by shipping and terminal operators. Regulatory decisions must be transparent, consultative, data-driven, and aligned with national economic objectives.

“To forestall a recurrence of this shenanigan act by shipping lines and terminal operators, the association therefore appealed to the Federal Government to review and halt the indiscriminate approval of shipping and terminal charges, direct a comprehensive audit of all recently approved port charges and their economic impact, strengthen the regulatory independence and capacity of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council in line with its statutory mandate and reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing port costs and restoring stakeholder confidence in the maritime sector.

According to Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, “the timely presidential intervention will go a long way in safeguarding the national economy, supporting local industries, and ensuring that Nigeria’s ports remain competitive and investor-friendly.”