APFFLON Slams NSC For Supporting Unjustified Tariff Increases, Calls For Immediate Action

APFFLON Slams NSC For Supporting Unjustified Tariff Increases, Calls For Immediate Action

APFFLON President ,Otunba Frank Ogunojemite,addressing the media today at his office in Ikeja,Lagos,Nigeria

By Frank Odinukaeze

The National President of the  office Africa Association of  Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics  of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, held a press briefing today at his Ikeja office to address the recent tariff hikes imposed by the West African Container Terminal (WACT).
During the briefing, Ogunojemite condemned the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) for supporting these increases, which he deemed as detrimental to the Nigerian economy and the well-being of its citizens.

Ogunojemite expressed frustration over the lack of engagement from both WACT and the NSC prior to the tariff hike, which he argued was unjustified and detrimental to the government’s efforts to reduce the cost of port operations. He pointed out that the Minister of Transport had committed to reducing operational costs by 25% at a recent national event, a goal which seems to contradict the NSC’s decision to support a 100% tariff hike by WACT.

“We see this as a sabotage,” Ogunojemite stated, referring to the tariff increase. “The NSC is not acting in the interest of the Nigerian people. If they can support WACT on this unjustified increase, it shows a lack of regard for the welfare of the nation.”

He also pointed out that this was not the first instance of such tariff hikes. Last year, WACT imposed a 100% increase, and this year, it followed suit with another similar hike. Ogunojemite stressed that such increases are affecting not only freight forwarders but also citizens who are bearing the brunt of the increased costs in their everyday transactions.

In his statements, the APFFLON president also touched upon the issue of charges on weekends and public holidays, which have further exacerbated the financial burden on stakeholders in the port industry. He referred to these additional charges as “cheating” and “sabotage,” calling for the Nigerian government and the Shippers Council to intervene.

Ogunojemite highlighted that APFFLON had sent a letter to the NSC on March 4, 2025, alerting them to the potential negative impact of the tariff hikes, but the letter had been ignored. He expressed concerns that the NSC’s lack of action on these matters is indicative of a larger problem within the council, one that jeopardizes Nigeria’s aspirations to be a logistics and port hub for West Africa.

Further criticizing the NSC’s failure to regulate the industry effectively, Ogunojemite suggested that the council’s lack of oversight was undermining efforts to streamline and improve the port sector in line with the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreements.

“We are calling on the Nigerian government to look into these issues seriously. This will not only affect the port sector but the entire economy,” Ogunojemite said. “If the current trend continues, Nigeria will lose its competitive edge as the gateway to West Africa. We cannot afford to let this happen.”

When asked about the rationale behind WACT’s phased increments, Ogunojemite questioned the justification for a 100% increase during a time when the government is actively trying to reduce operational costs. He also expressed concerns about the broader implications for businesses in Nigeria, especially small and medium enterprises, which may find it increasingly difficult to operate under these new conditions.

APFFLON has vowed to continue pushing back against these tariff hikes through formal channels, including writing to the Senate Committee on Ethnic Privilege and Public Hearing, as well as reaching out to the federal government to challenge the decision. Ogunojemite made it clear that the association would not remain silent in the face of what he called a “systemic sabotage” of the country’s economic interests.

“We are not folding our hands,” he said firmly. “We will not allow the interests of a few to undermine the future of Nigeria and its citizens.”

The press conference ended with Ogunojemite reaffirming APFFLON’s commitment to holding the NSC and other relevant bodies accountable for their actions, ensuring that the nation’s ports and logistics sector are operated in a way that benefits all Nigerians, not just a select few.