Why 30 percent tariff increment is yet to be implemented - Shippers' Council

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has disclosed that no new tariff implementation will be permitted without extensive engagement with shipping companies and freight forwarders.

The council maintained that a collaborative approach is essential for maintaining a stable maritime environment.

At a recent stakeholders engagement, the Council Executive Secretary, Pius Akutah clarified that while the Council has approved a 30 percent tariff increment, this decision serves as a strategic intervention to balance the rising operational costs of service providers with the economic realities of port users.

The approval follows a period of over two years without a tariff review, during which shipping lines and terminal operators faced significant inflationary pressure and shifting macroeconomic indices.
While these operators initially requested increases as high as 150 to 300 percent, the Council moderated the final figure to 30 percent based on a scientific audit of financial records and investment levels.

This percentage serves as a ceiling rather than a fixed rate, allowing companies to implement lower increments if their specific operational needs allow.

The Council further noted that the current suspension of these fees will only be lifted once stakeholders, including importers and exporters, have been properly consulted to ensure the adjustment does not lead to a collapse in any segment of the maritime value chain.