The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC-RGT) has cautioned that persistent regulatory gaps in port and shipping charges governance could cost the Nigerian economy between ₦500 billion and ₦700 billion annually and worsen inflation pressures, according to a policy memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
The memorandum, dated January 14, 2026 and signed by SEREC’s Head of Research, Dr. Eugene Nweke, followed widespread industrial actions and protests over recent increases in shipping line and terminal charges that disrupted operations at the Apapa port corridor — Nigeria’s busiest container gateway. According to SEREC’s assessment, these episodes exposed deep structural and regulatory weaknesses in port charges governance.
SEREC noted that even modest additional charges of between ₦150,000 and ₦250,000 per container could translate into an added burden of roughly ₦225 billion to ₦450 billion per year on the economy, costs that are ultimately passed on to manufacturers, importers and consumers. The group also warned that heavy logistics charges now represent 30 – 40 % of total landed import costs for some goods, which acts as a “hidden inflation tax” and undermines efforts to stabilise prices.
The memorandum highlighted that increasing logistics costs are associated with higher consumer prices, particularly for essentials like food, pharmaceuticals and industrial inputs, potentially adding 0.7 – 1.2 percentage points to Nigeria’s headline inflation each year.
SEREC also criticised reactive regulatory responses, arguing that interventions after disruptions signal institutional frailty and encourage recurring disputes. The group warned that without clear tariff consultation and approval frameworks, investor uncertainty persists and required returns on investment rise, which inevitably pushes up port service costs.
To address these challenges, SEREC recommended the institutionalisation of a binding national tariff review and approval framework, mandatory cost-justification disclosures by service providers, and establishment of a multi-stakeholder Port Charges Review and Mediation Forum to resolve disputes proactively. The group estimates that such reforms could reduce unjustified charges by 10 – 20 %, yielding annual savings of ₦200 billion – ₦400 billion for the economy.
SEREC’s policy paper stresses that strengthening port charge regulation is not only an industry concern but a national economic priority critical to inflation control, trade competitiveness, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector.
January 14–15, 2026 — Source: ShippingPosition / Premium News Daily / PUNCH