Freight forwarders protest arbitrary shipping charges at Apapa ports

By: Zagazola Makama 

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised concerns over what it described as arbitrary and unilateral increases in shipping charges by some shipping companies at the Apapa ports in Lagos.

The grievances were contained in a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Park Lane, Apapa, and copied to the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western Command), Apapa.

The letter, titled “Administrative Overreach: The Non-Consensual and Arbitrary Increase of Shipping Charges in Breach of Established Procedure and Protocol,” was received at about 2:30 p.m. on March 12.

Following the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Western Command, Apapa, convened a meeting with the leadership of NAGAFF to discuss the issue.

Those in attendance included Mr Bert Okeke, Secretary and representative of the NAGAFF Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko; Mr Uche Nwabude, Operational Head; and Chief Raf Nwoye, Technical Director at the association’s headquarters, alongside eight other members.

During the meeting, the NAGAFF leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged immediate and unilateral upward review of shipping charges by some companies without prior notification to freight forwarders and other service users.

They described the development as a breach of established procedures guiding port operations and trade facilitation.

In her response, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Western Command, commended the association for following due process by engaging relevant stakeholders and bringing the matter to the attention of authorities.

She urged the union leaders to remain law-abiding and advised them to notify the police and obtain approval before embarking on any picketing or protest actions.

The police chief also encouraged the association to suspend any planned industrial action pending efforts by the Nigerian Shippers Council to mediate and resolve the dispute.

She further called for sustained synergy, collaboration and consolidation between the police and stakeholders in the maritime sector to ensure smooth trade facilitation at the ports.

The meeting ended at about 3:25 p.m.