A major industrial crisis is brewing at Onne Port in Rivers State as freight forwarders and customs agents have launched a protest against a 7% import surcharge, decrying what they describe as “multiple taxation.” The agitation, led by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has escalated into the picketing of Pacific International Lines (PIL) offices, starting Wednesday, February 4, 2026. For the Nigerian economy, this disruption at one of the nation’s fastest-growing maritime hubs poses a direct threat to the N4 trillion revenue targets of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and could further inflate the “cost of living” by delaying the clearance of essential goods.
The economic consequence of this standoff is rooted in the increased cost of logistics. Shipping lines, including PIL, are allegedly imposing a 7% surcharge that agents claim replicates the Port Development Levy already collected by Customs. Freight forwarders argue that paying this 7% twice once to the government and again to private shipping firms is unsustainable for businesses already grappling with high exchange rates. If the picketing continues, the resulting gridlock at the Area II Command could reverse the gains made in 2025, when the command recorded a 15.4% increase in revenue generation, threatening the fiscal stability of the maritime sector.
Analytically, the conflict highlights a breakdown in “Regulatory Compliance” and stakeholder engagement. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council had previously advised shipping lines to maintain the status quo on charges and engage in dialogue before any hikes. By moving forward with the surcharge, shipping lines are seen as bypassing these directives, leading to the current “logistics paralysis.” From a fiscal perspective, while the NCS is pushing for “Time Release Studies” (TRS) to speed up cargo clearance, industrial actions like this create a bottleneck that renders technological improvements ineffective.
The impact on “Trade Facilitation” is a vital dimension of this crisis. Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed Alkali of the Area II Command recently emphasized that improper documentation remains a major hurdle for timely clearance. However, the addition of disputed levies adds another layer of complexity to the clearing process. For the Nigerian business environment, particularly in the South-South and South-East, Onne Port serves as a critical gateway for industrial raw materials and consumer goods. A prolonged shutdown of shipping services could trigger an “inflationary spike” as supply chain lead times extend and demurrage costs accumulate for stranded containers.
Furthermore, the protest by four major associations ANLCA, NAGAFF, ARFFN, and the National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents reflects a unified front against “arbitrary” charge increases. This collective action underscores the need for a stronger maritime ombudsman to enforce price ceilings. For the Renewed Hope administration, ensuring that the maritime sector remains competitive is essential for the success of the Blue Economy mandate. If shipping companies are allowed to impose surcharges without oversight, Nigeria risks losing transit cargo to more cost-effective regional ports like Cotonou or Lomé.
The long-term economic outlook for Onne Port depends on the resolution of this “double taxation” dispute. While the Area II Command achieved significant growth in 2025, the 2026 fiscal year requires a stable environment to meet its ambitious targets. The federal government must intervene to harmonize port levies and ensure that “Ease of Doing Business” is not sacrificed for shipping line profits. By enforcing the directives of the Shippers’ Council and ensuring transparency in manifest transmission, Nigeria can protect its maritime revenue and solidify Onne Port’s position as a reliable engine of the national economy.
