The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has directed all shipping companies, shipping agents and terminal operators across the nation’s seaports to immediately suspend any review or upward adjustment of their charges until they have fully engaged and consulted relevant stakeholders.
The directive, issued by the Council in its capacity as Nigeria’s Port Economic Regulator, comes amid rising discontent within the maritime industry over recent increases in shipping and ancillary charges, which have triggered protests by freight forwarders and heightened tensions at the ports.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, warned that the Council is empowered under its regulatory mandate to apply appropriate sanctions, including enforcement measures provided for under relevant regulatory frameworks. While encouraging constructive engagement, dialogue and compliance, he stressed that any service provider that proceeds with charge reviews without stakeholder consultation should be prepared to face sanctions.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Rebecca Adamu, on 13th January, 2026 , the Council clarified that recent tariff adjustments were approved strictly in line with its statutory mandate and followed a transparent, structured and well defined regulatory process. According to the NSC, the process involved detailed technical and consultative engagements with affected service providers to examine cost drivers, operational realities, investment obligations and regulatory compliance.
The Council stressed that such engagements did not amount to automatic approvals but were part of a broader evaluative process, with final decisions reached only after rigorous internal, technical and financial assessments guided by empirical evidence, regulatory benchmarks and prevailing economic conditions.
The NSC cautioned shipping companies, agents and terminal operators against implementing any charge reviews without first carrying along their stakeholders. It warned that any port service provider found disrupting port operations through unilateral tariff reviews would face decisive regulatory action.
Akutah assured port users and industry stakeholders that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council remains committed to protecting their interests, promoting fair competition and ensuring a balanced, predictable and sustainable business environment within the Nigerian maritime industry.
The directive is coming against the backdrop of mounting complaints from freight forwarders and other port users over the recent increase in charges by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a development that sparked a protest at the company’s Apapa office and further escalated tensions within the port sector. Stakeholders argue that the upward review of import documentation and port additional charges was implemented without adequate consultation
According to the revised tariff regime, MSC increased its Import Documentation Fee for 20foot containers from ₦45,000 to ₦58,500, while the charge for 40foot containers rose from ₦72,000 to ₦93,600. Port Additional Charges for 20foot containers were also raised from ₦50,000 to ₦80,000, with 40foot container charges jumping from ₦100,000 to ₦160,000.
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