Shipping Charges Row: Agents Insist No Talks with NSC, Companies as Protest Grounds Lagos Ports
Following the renewed withdrawal of services in protest against what they describe as the illegal increment of shipping charges by shipping companies, freight forwarders and customs agents have insisted they were never invited for any meaningful dialogue by either the shipping companies or the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
The agents, who resumed their protest after over three months of waiting for a resolution, dismissed claims by the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, that they had resisted dialogue.
Dr. Akutah, while addressing the media during Tuesday’s protest, urged the aggrieved agents to embrace dialogue. His remarks came amid the picketing of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) offices by protesting freight forwarders over recent tariff increases.
He emphasised that dialogue remains the most effective and modern dispute resolution mechanism—faster, more humane, and more productive than what he described as a “bottled anger approach.”
He also warned that prolonged industrial disputes in the maritime sector could disrupt port operations and negatively affect trade and economic activities.
While acknowledging the right of stakeholders to protest, the NSC boss condemned what he termed unprofessional conduct by some freight forwarders, particularly the act of preventing regulators from accessing MSC premises to address the issue.
Dr. Akutah further recalled that during a similar protest weeks earlier, the Council intervened and compelled MSC to suspend the disputed charges for two days pending discussions.
He reiterated the Council’s commitment to mediating between shipping companies and freight forwarders to ensure fairness and stability in the maritime sector.
However, key leaders of the protesting agents have strongly refuted these claims.
In separate phone interviews, National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Emmanuel Onyeme; Western Zone Coordinator of ANLCA, Alhaji Femi Anifowose,
and Chairman of ANLCA Tin Can Island Port Chapter, Prince Olawale Cole, maintained that no genuine dialogue has taken place since the last protest over three months ago.
According to Onyeme, the only invitation for dialogue came via a letter dated February 23, 2026, addressed to the National President of ANLCA and signed by Mrs. Ify Okolue, Director of Consumer Affairs at the NSC. However, upon arrival at the NSC premises, they were informed that the meeting had been cancelled because the Executive Secretary had travelled to Abuja.
“Since that day, there has been nothing like a dialogue. The NSC, the Executive Secretary, and the shipping companies have never called us for any dialogue since the last protest, despite promises made over three months ago.
“We woke up on March 1, 2026, to see shipping companies implement the illegal increment after the ES advised them to engage us—which never happened”, Onyeme stated.
He further alleged that the Council appears to be taking sides with shipping companies, accusing them of exploiting Nigerians without corresponding improvements in service delivery.
Reacting to the ES’s visit to the protest venue, Onyeme said: “He came after over three months of silence, and protesters refused him entry. This was not the right time—we had been waiting for dialogue, but none came. Now, he says we should embrace dialogue. Which dialogue?”
The freight forwarders have vowed to continue their peaceful protest until the charges are reversed to the previous rates. They insist that meaningful engagement can only begin after a rollback of the increment and a properly convened stakeholders’ meeting led by the NSC.
They also argued that while terminal operators may justify increases due to value-added services, shipping companies have failed to provide commensurate improvements to warrant the new charges.
