Concerned stakeholders in Nigeria’s freight forwarding and clearing sector have unanimously called for an urgent review of the current tariff structure.
They also seek stricter enforcement of local content laws and the introduction of new regulations to create a more balanced and inclusive operating environment.
Speaking last week in Lagos during a media engagement with some journalists, the stakeholders warned that the persistent hike in tariffs is stifling trade, “discouraging indigenous participation, and worsening economic hardship across the country”.
A private practitioner, Kenneth Ofurum, said the current tariff regime has made it increasingly difficult for freight forwarders and importers to operate, noting that many businesses are shutting down due to rising costs.
In March, The PUNCH reported that freight forwarders across Lagos ports had vowed to resist any increase in charges by shipping companies.
This is even as the aggrieved agents staged a coordinated protest at the offices of major shipping lines in Apapa, Lagos, rejecting the recent increment in shipping charges.
The protest, which began at MSC Shipping’s office along Commercial Road, Apapa, was also held at Lagos and Niger Shipping Company and Pacific International Lines, leading to a total shutdown of business operations at the respective shipping companies.
Meanwhile, earlier in April, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council met with maritime stakeholders, including shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters, insisting on comprehensive stakeholder engagement before the implementation of the proposed tariff hike.
However, Ofurum stressed that government policies must be implemented with a human face, adding that the current “approach to revenue generation is placing undue pressure on operators and ultimately being passed on to consumers through higher prices of goods and services”.
According to him, the hike in tariffs has led to a surge in unclaimed and overtime cargo at the ports, as many importers are unable to meet the financial demands required to clear their goods.
Ofurum also raised concerns over what he described as the systematic sidelining of indigenous operators, alleging that foreign interests are increasingly taking over roles traditionally reserved for Nigerians in the clearing and forwarding value chain.
He emphasised that the industry, which cuts across logistics, documentation, marine services, and legal operations, has historically provided employment for thousands of Nigerians, warning that continued neglect of local content could further worsen unemployment.
The stakeholders, therefore, urged the government to enforce existing local content laws that prioritise indigenous participation while also developing new policies that will protect local operators from unfair competition.
They further called for inclusive policy formulation, stressing that critical stakeholders must be carried along in the design and implementation of major reforms, including digital platforms such as the National Single Window.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Harsecom Logistics Limited, Haruna Omolajumo, underscored the need for deliberate government policies that would guarantee local participation in maritime business.
He noted that in other countries, including Ghana, foreign companies are required to partner with local operators, ensuring that a significant share of business activities remains within the domestic economy.
Omolajumo lamented that the absence of such structured policies in Nigeria has allowed foreign firms and concessionaires to dominate the sector, often to the detriment of local businesses.
He also highlighted the sharp increase in port-related charges, revealing that costs which were previously within N10,000 have now escalated to hundreds of thousands, making it difficult for smaller operators to remain in business.
The stakeholders maintained that while the government has the responsibility to generate revenue, such efforts must not undermine trade facilitation or cripple indigenous enterprises.
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