The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has called for a review of the 15 per cent port tariff increase introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), warning it could raise costs for port users and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness in maritime trade.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Eugene Nweke, SEREC’s Head of Research, said the increase is already pushing up operational expenses for terminal operators and shipping companies, costs that are ultimately passed on to importers and exporters.
According to him, port-related charges in Nigeria need to be harmonised and rationalised to reduce inefficiencies and excessive cost burdens across the sector.
Nweke also expressed concern that assigning revenue targets to regulatory agencies could undermine their core responsibilities and distort policy decisions.
The Federal Government approved the 15 per cent tariff increase in February as part of efforts to upgrade port infrastructure and expand capacity.
However, Nweke said the adjustment has triggered further price increases by terminal operators and shipping lines, adding pressure on businesses that rely on Nigerian ports.
He warned that higher port costs could slow trade activities and reduce Nigeria’s competitiveness compared to other regional ports.
The NPA recently announced that U.S. dollar–denominated port charges will now be adjusted every two years, based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Meanwhile, naira-denominated charges will be reviewed every three years in line with Nigeria’s inflation rate.
The authority said the mechanism is designed to ensure tariffs reflect inflation and operational realities.
SEREC also raised concerns about the Nigeria Customs Service’s revenue targets, arguing that they often create operational bottlenecks during cargo clearance.
Nweke said the targets frequently lead to valuation disputes, cargo reclassification, and post-clearance demand notices, all of which delay cargo movement and increase logistics costs.
He suggested that the Customs Service should focus more on cargo throughput targets rather than strict revenue benchmarks to improve trade facilitation.
The 15 per cent port tariff increase is the first major adjustment since 1993, according to the NPA.
Authorities say the review will support port modernisation and efficiency, but industry stakeholders continue to warn that higher charges could increase the cost of doing business through Nigerian ports.
