The Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) has formally defended the recent upward adjustment of tariffs by shipping agencies, characterizing the process as a rigorous, transparent exercise conducted under strict regulatory supervision. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, SAN Chairperson Mrs. Boma Alabi addressed growing concerns from the NAGAFF Trade War Advocacy Committee, dismissing claims of arbitrary price hikes as “inaccurate and misleading.”
The structural and regulatory consequence of these new charges is rooted in a nearly two-year evaluation process led by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. Alabi clarified that the adjustments were not a blanket approval for all operators; rather, they were granted on a case-by-case basis only to companies that successfully justified their cost analyses. This oversight ensures that the maritime sector remains balanced while adhering to the Council’s statutory mandate to regulate commercial activities at Nigeria’s ports.
Analytically, the tariff review was necessitated by harsh macroeconomic headwinds, specifically inflation and foreign exchange volatility. Alabi noted that while shipping companies have been singled out for criticism, the approved increases are actually “modest” and remain below the cumulative inflation rate recorded during the 24-month review period. She argued that these adjustments are essential for shipping lines to recover rising operational and logistics costs that have affected the entire maritime value chain.
The impact on “Industry Fairness and Cost Distribution” was a central theme of Alabi’s defense. She pointed out that other stakeholders within the port ecosystem have similarly raised their charges to survive current economic realities. By isolating shipping companies, critics fail to acknowledge the broader systemic pressures facing the industry. Alabi emphasized that maintaining these services requires a sustainable pricing model that reflects the actual cost of doing business in Nigeria’s waters.
Furthermore, SAN is calling for a move away from public confrontation toward sustained institutional dialogue. Alabi urged aggrieved stakeholders to utilize the appropriate regulatory frameworks to channel their grievances rather than engaging in “trade war” rhetoric. The association maintains that the Shippers’ Council’s approval process was exhaustive, involving multiple layers of consultation with key industry players to ensure the final rates were justifiable.
The long-term outlook for Nigeria’s maritime sector depends on the ability of regulators to balance port competitiveness with the financial viability of service providers. As global shipping costs remain sensitive to local currency fluctuations, SAN’s defense of these “thoroughly scrutinized” tariffs highlights the tension between maintaining low landing costs and ensuring high-quality logistics infrastructure. For importers and clearing agents, the focus will now shift to whether these increased costs translate into improved efficiency at the terminals.
