Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has attributed the persistent complaints over arbitrary terminal charges at Nigerian ports to policy inconsistencies and overlapping responsibilities among government agencies.
The Council said the conflicting roles of regulatory authorities have weakened efforts to enforce fair pricing and ensure that terminal operators comply with approved operational guidelines.
Speaking on the development, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of CRFFN, Kingsley Igwe, said the Council was aware of the concerns being raised by freight forwarders and clearing agents over alleged excessive charges and delays in cargo clearance.
Freight forwarders have in recent times accused some terminal operators of deliberately slowing down cargo handling processes, alleging that prolonged delays often result in increased storage bills and other charges. According to stakeholders, affected importers can incur storage fees ranging from about N70,000 to N200,000 per cargo.
Igwe explained that although CRFFN monitors developments within the freight forwarding sector and intervenes through advocacy and stakeholder engagement, direct enforcement against terminal operators falls outside the Council’s immediate regulatory mandate.
He said other government agencies have specific statutory responsibilities for regulating terminal operations and addressing infractions, making inter-agency collaboration critical to resolving the recurring disputes.
According to him, CRFFN has continued to engage the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure complaints from freight forwarders are brought to the attention of agencies with the requisite enforcement powers.
He said the Council was using stakeholder meetings, communiqués and other institutional channels to push for corrective measures while avoiding unnecessary friction among government agencies.
Igwe, however, disclosed that the Council was also undertaking major reforms in its licensing and regulatory framework, particularly with the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW).
He said the new framework would give greater priority to Nigerian operators while tightening the conditions under which foreign freight forwarding companies can operate in the country.
Under the emerging guidelines, foreign operators would only be allowed to participate where they can demonstrate the introduction of specialised high-technology services or substantial capital investment capable of adding value to Nigeria’s freight forwarding industry.
The CRFFN chief said the policy was designed to ensure that foreign participation strengthens the capacity of the sector rather than displacing indigenous operators.
He noted that the financial and operational requirements were in line with the broader government policy governing strategic participation in the maritime sector, stressing that foreign investment must translate into tangible value for the Nigerian economy.
The reforms, he added, are expected to strengthen local capacity, improve regulatory compliance and position Nigerian freight forwarding practitioners to derive greater benefits from the digital transformation of the country’s port and trade processes.