The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has announced an approved increase in charges for shipping companies operating in Nigeria. The agency also conveyed plans to review the ETO (electronic call-up) charges administered by Truck Transit Park Limited in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). While the exact tariff details weren’t disclosed, NSC, which serves as the Port Economic Regulator, confirmed its awareness and authorisation of the changes.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting at the NSC’s Apapa headquarters, NSC Executive Secretary/CEO Dr Pius Akutah, represented by Director of Regulatory Services Mrs Margaret Ogbonna, explained that the review has been in demand since earlier in 2025. He noted that inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and other market dynamics have affected rate structures.

“We’ve been urging operators to engage their customers and explain the rationale behind the marginal increases,” Akutah said. He added that two carriers have already held discussions with customers, who reportedly understand the necessity of the adjustments.

The NSC has also been deluged with complaints about what appears to be arbitrary increases in ETO call-up tickets for trucks entering Nigerian ports. The regulator said it has begun engaging both the NPA and TTP to address the issue. Akutah disclosed that initial charges were around N10,000, but there are reports of newer, broader price pressures and possible syndicate activity at port gates. The Council aims to issue a resolution by early next year and plans to assess these charges by the end of January, once invoices and nomenclature are collected as evidence rather than rumors.

Stakeholders were urged to submit invoices and other documentary evidence to help the NSC study and challenge the nomenclature being used.

On another front, the NSC is coordinating with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to replace container deposits with container insurance as mandated by the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025. Akutah explained that the act, which took effect in July 2025, is designed to curb illegal practices in the sector by ensuring that shippers and ports move toward insured containers. If implemented, shipping companies would bear liability for holding bays and related practices, and some operators have already paused container deposit collections.

The NSC reiterated its commitment to keeping stakeholders informed and to ensuring a transparent, evidence-based review process as it moves toward implementing NIIRA 2025 reforms and the January 2026 reassessment of Eto Call-Up charges.