The Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, has warned that Nigeria’s maritime sector cannot afford a standoff at this critical time, calling on freight forwarders and shipping companies to urgently find common ground over the newly approved tariff review.
He stressed that as the nation’s port economic regulator, the Council is duty-bound to safeguard the interests of both consumers and service providers, urging all parties to prioritise dialogue over discord. Akutah explained that the Council’s decision to approve a 30 per cent tariff increase was carefully calibrated to strike a balance between sustaining shipping operations and protecting the wider economy from excessive strain.
According to him, the phased approach would prevent any sudden shock to the economy, especially as some operators have already begun consultations. Dr. Akutah revealed that initial tensions surrounding the tariff hike were partly fuelled by the actions of a shipping agency chief executive, which provoked strong reactions from freight forwarders.
He noted, however, that such disagreements should not derail the broader objective of maintaining a stable and efficient maritime system. He further disclosed that shipping companies had originally proposed steep increases ranging from 150 to 200 per cent, but the Council intervened to moderate the figure to 30 per cent in view of prevailing economic realities, including rising operational costs and wage adjustments within the sector.
On the part of operators, Boma Alabi, President of the Shipping Association of Nigeria, attributed the tariff review to harsh economic conditions, noting that the approved rate fell below industry expectations. She pointed out that operators are grappling with rising costs, including a new minimum wage benchmark of ₦200,000 within the subsector, and called for continued collaboration to build a more competitive and resilient maritime industry.