The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Western Zone; the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF); and the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) on Monday shut down the operations of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in Apapa over a recent hike in shipping charges.

The associations said the planned increments, coming barely three years after shipping lines raised tariffs by over 400 percent, are difficult to justify given the relative stabilization of key cost drivers such as foreign exchange rates and petroleum product prices.

Speaking on Monday after the MSC head office in Apapa was shut down, ANLCA Western Zone Coordinator, Mr. Femi Anifowoshe, explained that by Tuesday, the shutdown action would be replicated at Maersk Line, PIL, and others.

According to Mr. Femi Anifowoshe, “Our demand is for them to go back to the old rate before any negotiation.

“Two years ago, around October 2023, these shipping companies increased by 400 percent based on rising dollar rate and increments in diesel and maintenance of their machineries. We agreed with it.

“But this one now, the dollar is coming down, and diesel is also coming down. There is no justification for this increment.

“You can’t call us for a meeting on the 30th of December 2025 and increase your charges on the 1st of January 2026. And they were now telling us that they sent us a notice since 15th of December 2025.

“We are the people that are bringing customers. There are some jobs that we have contracted and signed MOU with clients based on the old rates. But now, the price has changed. Who is going to bear the cost implications of the price hike?”

On other shipping companies, Mr. Anifowoshe explained that Maersk Line and PIL will be shut down on Tuesday.

“We are moving to other associations by tomorrow. Maerskline, PIL and others. If they don’t revert the fee hike, we will as well shut down their operations.”

Confirming the shutdown, the National President of APFFLON, Frank Ogunojemite, explained that the shutdown action will continue until shipping charges are reversed.

“We are solidly behind the strike action. The hike in charges by the shipping companies is uncalled for. If they wont reverse the fee, we wont bavl down,” Frank Ogunojemite told the Nigerian Tribune.

Monday’s protest was joined by the Secretary of the ANLCA Western Zone, Alhaji Idowu Owoade; ANLCA National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Oyeme; Chairman, ANLCA Tincan Island Port Chapter, Prince Olawale Cole; and Chairman of KLT Chapter of ANLCA, Chief Ahmed Olajide Bello.

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) also joined the protest, including the NAGAFF Tin Can Chapter Chairman, Dr. Emeka Paul Chiedozie, and APFFLON Tincan Chairman, Alhaji Akeem Aribiojo, among others. (Nigerian Tribune)