The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has directed all shipping companies, agents, and terminal operators within Nigerian ports to halt any review or increase of charges until they engage fully with their stakeholders.
The NSC emphasized that while recent tariff adjustments were approved under its statutory mandate, these approvals followed a transparent and rigorous regulatory process involving technical and consultative assessments.
“The engagements did not constitute automatic approvals; rather, they informed a broader evaluative process,” the Council said, adding that final decisions were based on empirical evidence, regulatory benchmarks, and economic conditions.
Dr. Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary of the NSC, warned that any service providers implementing charge hikes without proper stakeholder consultation would face “decisive regulatory action,” including sanctions under the Council’s enforcement powers.
“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council remains committed to protecting the interests of port users, promoting fair competition, and ensuring a balanced and predictable business environment within the Nigerian maritime industry,” Dr. Akutah stated.
The NSC further underscored transparency, fairness, and stakeholder participation as core principles guiding port economic regulation in Nigeria and pledged to act firmly against any disruptions to port operations caused by unauthorized charge increases.
