The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has formally protested what it calls arbitrary and unilateral increases in shipping charges by some operators at Lagos’s Apapa Port Complex, citing breaches of established protocols.
In a March 12 letter to the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), with a copy to the Ports Authority Police, NAGAFF accused certain shipping companies of implementing immediate fee adjustments without prior consultation with freight forwarders or service users. The association, representing key logistics stakeholders, described the actions as an “administrative overreach” that violates standard procedures governing charges and trade facilitation at the port.
The matter was promptly addressed when the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Western Command, convened a meeting with NAGAFF leadership. Delegates included NAGAFF Secretary Bert Okeke (representing Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko), Operational Head Uche Nwabude, Technical Director Chief Raf Nwoye, and several members. During the discussion, NAGAFF reiterated its objection to the unexpected cost impositions, arguing they undermine agreed operational frameworks and create uncertainty in the supply chain.
Following the presentation, the police commissioner commended NAGAFF for utilizing due process by engaging regulatory authorities before considering any public action. She instructed the association to obtain police permission for any picketing or protest and advised suspending planned industrial action. Emphasizing the need for uninterrupted port operations, she urged all parties to await mediation by the Nigerian Shippers Council, the sector’s statutory regulator.
Apapa Port handles a significant portion of Nigeria’s maritime trade, making fee stability critical for importers, exporters, and logistics firms. NAGAFF’s intervention highlights ongoing tensions between service providers and freight forwarders over cost transparency and consultation mechanisms. The NSC’s mediation is now poised to determine whether the contested fee structures will be adjusted, maintained, or rolled back. Stakeholders stress that a resolution is essential to prevent operational disruptions and maintain Nigeria’s trade competitiveness at this vital West African gateway.
