The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has raised serious concerns over the proposed plan to raise shipping charges at the nation’s ports, saying that it amounts to economic sabotage.
The association further described the move as a potentially damaging development within Nigeria’s maritime regulatory space, warning that proposed increases in could undermine ongoing economic reforms.
It said it is disturbed by indications that the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council may have signaled support for shipping companies to increase charges at Nigerian ports — a move APFFLON believes runs contrary to the federal government’s cost-reduction reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on behalf of the association, APFFLON National President, Frank Ogunojemite, described the development as “deeply disturbing, economically dangerous and capable of eroding public confidence in the sincerity of ongoing port reforms”.
According to him, encouraging shipping lines to increase charges at a time when the federal government is implementing measures to reduce the cost of doing business could amount to economic sabotage.
“At a time when the federal government is aggressively pursuing policies to reduce the cost of doing business, stabilise inflation and reposition Nigerian ports for competitiveness, any encouragement for shipping companies to increase charges amounts to economic sabotage”, he said.
APFFLON warned that arbitrary increases in shipping charges or what operators may describe as operational adjustments could reverse progress made in rationalising port costs and worsen economic hardship for Nigerians.
The association further noted that such increases could escalate inflationary pressures, cripple small and medium-scale importers and exporters, weaken Nigeria’s trade competitiveness within the West African sub-region and send negative signals to both local and foreign investors.
The group stressed that the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is to regulate the industry and protect Nigerian shippers from exploitative practices by shipping companies, not to create policy signals that may embolden foreign shipping lines to impose additional financial burdens.
APFFLON described the development as a matter of national economic concern, warning that if not urgently addressed, the consequences could extend beyond the maritime sector to affect manufacturing, agriculture, retail supply chains and the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
The association therefore called for immediate clarification from the leadership of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and urged swift intervention by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
It also appealed to the Presidency to investigate the situation and ensure that all maritime regulatory agencies remain fully aligned with the economic reform agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
APFFLON maintained that Nigeria cannot afford regulatory contradictions at a time of economic reform, stressing that all government agencies must work toward the shared objective of reducing costs and promoting trade efficiency.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to defending the interests of freight forwarders, shippers and the Nigerian economy, adding that it would pursue legitimate institutional channels to safeguard national economic stability if necessary.