Federal Government talks with players in Nigeria’s maritime sector have hit a deadlock over a proposed increase in shipping tariffs.

The disagreement emerged after the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) suspended an earlier plan to roll out a 30% tariff hike and instead called for wider consultations. The next round of talks was held in Lagos through the House of Representatives Committee on Shipping Services.

After closed-door discussions, it became clear the two main groups were opposing the same 30% figure—but for different reasons.

Shipping companies rejected the proposed 30% ceiling and argued they need a higher adjustment. They pointed to factors such as inflation, rising operating costs, foreign exchange instability, and wider pressures affecting global shipping, saying the current tariff arrangement is no longer sustainable.

Meanwhile, licensed customs agents and freight-related operators also resisted the 30% increment, but their position was that the increase cannot apply as a blanket, uniform rate to all shipping lines. They argued that not all operators provide the same level of service and that some companies had undermined the regulatory process by not following required procedures before pushing for tariff changes.

House Committee Chairman Abdusamad Dasuki said a fresh engagement would be held within the next two weeks to resolve the remaining issues. He also noted that the committee wants a clear framework—including timelines and the participation of relevant regulatory representatives—before any agreed tariff adjustment is implemented.

Dasuki added that any final implementation date would only be announced after consultations are concluded.

From the NSC side, the Executive Secretary, Dr Pius Akutah, said the 30% adjustment was originally approved but suspended due to resistance from stakeholders. He maintained that the tariff review is still necessary, especially because the sector has not seen a tariff increment in over two years. Akutah also said the NSC had considered a phased approach, with the 30% figure meant to act as an upper limit rather than a fixed rate.

Leaders of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) also made their case strongly. They rejected a flat 30% increase for all operators and argued that shipping companies should negotiate based on what each company can genuinely handle and the services it provides—rather than a one-size-fits-all hike.

The Chairman of the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), Boma Alabi, said the meeting did not produce meaningful progress and called for a transparent, consistent method for tariff review, similar to systems used in other regulated sectors like telecommunications and energy. She also criticised what she described as mixed signals from the NSC, including reports that tariff approvals may have been given to some operators individually.

At the end of the session, the House Committee directed the NSC to convene another stakeholder meeting and work toward a final agreement on the tariff increment.

For now, the negotiations remain unresolved, and the maritime sector will be watching to see what framework the NSC and other stakeholders agree on next.