Shippers' Council Orders Tariff Rollback Amid Dispute

The Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) has mandated shipping companies to revert recent tariff increases that have disrupted operations at the Lagos port. This directive, issued on a Friday, follows protests from freight forwarders and major associations, including the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents Association and the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders.

The council warned that any deviation from this order would be treated as a breach of regulatory compliance, attracting appropriate sanctions under existing laws. The tariff increases, which took effect on March 1, were described as arbitrary and excessive by industry representatives, who argued that they violated earlier agreements made in January.

The council's Executive Secretary attempted to mediate the situation but faced resistance from aggrieved agents. Shipping companies, however, defended the tariff adjustments as necessary due to rising operational costs, including inflation and exchange rate volatility.

The council insists that dialogue remains the appropriate channel for resolving disputes, while shipping companies maintain that the increases followed extensive reviews.