By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has directed the suspension of service rate increment by all shipping companies, agents and terminals operating in Nigerian ports, urging them to engage their stakeholders for a fair resolution of their disagreement.
This followed the backlash from clearing agents and other stakeholders over the unilateral upward rate review, which the NSC had earlier endorsed.
However, in a statement by the Head of Public Relations, Rebecca Adamu, the NSC Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pius Akutah, directed all shipping companies, agents and terminal operators “to suspend any intended review of charges until they have duly consulted and engaged their stakeholders.”
Akutah urged constructive engagement, dialogue and compliance, warning that the agency would sanction any port service provider that disrupts port operations. He insisted that transparency, fairness and stakeholder participation are fundamental principles of Nigeria’s port economic regulation.
He further assured the agency’s commitment to protecting the interests of port users, promoting fair competition, and ensuring a balanced and predictable business environment in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Meanwhile, the agency explained that all tariff reviews had been conducted in a transparent, structured and well-defined regulatory process, including detailed technical and consultative engagement with affected service providers.
Adamu explained that this was aimed at examining the cost drivers, operational realities, investment obligations and regulatory compliance. However, she said the engagements did not constitute automatic approvals but rather occasioned a broader evaluative process.
Final decisions, she noted, were made after rigorous internal, technical and financial assessments guided by empirical evidence, regulatory benchmarks and prevailing economic conditions.
