The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has called for greater transparency in Nigeria’s port charging system and stronger accountability for operational delays affecting importers, freight forwarders and other industry stakeholders.
SEREC’s Head of Research, Dr Eugene Nweke, made the recommendations in an industry bulletin issued in Abuja on Monday.
He said disputes over port charges, empty-container returns and delays should be addressed through transparent regulations and evidence-based investigations.
Centre Calls for Investigation Into Disputed Charges
Nweke said reported charges of N6,000 per container and an alleged N178 million refund demand required proper regulatory scrutiny.
He stressed that the claims should not be treated as established facts until competent authorities verify the circumstances and determine whether the charges were legally imposed.
The controversy followed a demand notice issued by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on August 6 concerning alleged charges at bonded terminals.
NAGAFF claimed that some terminals charged N3,000 for 20-foot containers and N6,000 for 40-foot containers, with the disputed collections reportedly amounting to about N178 million.
The association requested evidence showing the legal basis for the charges and demanded refunds of the alleged collections.
SEREC Wants Evidence-Based Regulatory Review
Nweke said authorities should establish who introduced the disputed charges, what services they were intended to cover and where the collected funds went.
He recommended an immediate regulatory fact-finding exercise supported by documentary audits.
The review, he said, should examine invoices, receipts, transaction records and payment trails associated with the disputed charges.
“Every legitimate charge is identifiable; service measurable; delay an accountable cause; payment traceable; licensed operator meets prescribed standards,” Nweke said.
He also warned that compulsory cargo-related charges should not be collected without a valid statutory, regulatory, contractual or approved commercial basis.
According to him, every compulsory charge should correspond to a clearly identifiable service, facility, legal obligation or legitimate contractual entitlement.
Electronic Billing Proposed for Port Charges
The SEREC researcher called for electronic billing and receipts for legitimate terminal charges.
He said digital payment and documentation systems would improve traceability and make it easier to determine whether charges were properly imposed and collected.
Such measures, he argued, could also reduce disputes between terminal operators and users of port services.
Shipping Lines Urged to Address Empty-Container Problems
Nweke also addressed challenges surrounding the return of empty containers.
He urged shipping companies to maintain adequate facilities and receiving arrangements for empty containers to prevent avoidable delays and additional costs for customers.
He proposed a detention causality protocol that would take into account documented situations in which customers are unable to return empty containers because of constraints attributable to service providers or facilities.
Port Performance Indicators Recommended
The SEREC official also proposed that truck waiting times and turnaround times become formal indicators for measuring port performance.
He said tracking these indicators would help identify inefficiencies and reduce unnecessary costs associated with delays.
Nweke further called on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and recognised professional bodies to develop a common professional code governing conduct within the port industry.
He also proposed a joint platform involving the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), NAGAFF and other recognised associations to address systemic industry challenges.
SEREC Seeks Clear Port Regulatory Framework
Nweke called for a clear implementation roadmap for the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), including defined responsibilities, stakeholder consultation and measurable implementation targets.
He also proposed an annual Port Economic Performance Report covering areas such as tariff movements, cargo dwell time, truck turnaround, complaints, disputed charges, refunds and detention disputes.
According to him, responsibility for costs resulting from delays should rest with the party responsible for causing them.
“Nigeria should move from tariff control to cost accountability; from complaint management to performance regulation; and from fragmented interests to coordinated port governance,” he said.
