The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has raised alarm over what it describes as arbitrary charges and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) imposed by foreign shipping companies on cargoes bound for African ports, warning that the trend is threatening trade competitiveness across the continent.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday at a two-day Sub-Regional Seminar and Meeting of the Standing Committee on Trade and Transport under the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC), the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, said the surcharges have become a major obstacle to Africa’s ability to compete fairly in global trade.
The seminar, themed “The Readiness of Countries of West and Central Africa in the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA — The Role of Shippers’ Councils,” focused on strengthening regional cooperation as African nations prepare to maximise the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a market estimated to cover more than 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP exceeding $3 trillion.
Dr Akutah stressed that Shippers’ Councils across West and Central Africa must act collectively to ensure transparency and fairness in maritime trade.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent issue of peak season surcharges and other arbitrary charges imposed by shipping lines,” he said. “These surcharges have serious implications for trade competitiveness in West and Central Africa. Through constructive engagement at this forum, we can develop a unified regional position that promotes fairness, transparency and sustainability in shipping practices.”
He added that the NSC, in its capacity as Nigeria’s port economic regulator, is pushing ahead with several reforms to improve port efficiency, promote multimodal transport, and develop inland dry ports and logistics hubs. These initiatives, he noted, are key to enhancing Nigeria’s readiness for the AfCFTA and the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
“The NSC continues to drive reforms to make our ports more efficient and trade-friendly,” Akutah said.
Also speaking at the event, UASC Secretary General, Abdurahman Kafougou, commended the NSC for its leadership role and for hosting the regional forum.
He urged African Shippers’ Councils to take advantage of the AfCFTA to cut logistics costs and delivery times through effective use of Incoterms 2020 and improved access to trade information.
Kafougou further advocated for the creation of unified digital information platforms and border-based data centres to assist shippers and streamline regional trade operations. He also called for the admission of new member countries to the UASC to strengthen its collective influence in global maritime affairs.
The seminar brought together a cross-section of industry stakeholders, including freight forwarders, port administrators, customs officials, shippers’ associations and truck operators. Participants agreed on the urgent need for coordinated regional action to curb exploitative shipping practices and build a more competitive, integrated African trade environment under the AfCFTA framework.
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