The Sea Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC) has issued a strong critique of the recent industrial action by freight agents at the Apapa ports, calling for an immediate halt to street-style shutdowns and physical enforcement over shipping tariff disputes.
SEREC's Call for Order and Institutional Reform
In a position paper released on Monday, 14 January 2026, and signed by its Head of Research, Dr. Eugene Nweke, SEREC responded to the protests triggered by recent increases in charges imposed by shipping companies. The research centre acknowledged that the grievances of stakeholders concerning arbitrary and disproportionate tariff hikes are legitimate. However, it firmly stated that the methods of protest, including the physical obstruction of business premises, are damaging to the industry's modern aspirations.
"Notwithstanding the legitimacy of the grievances, street-style shutdowns, physical obstruction of business premises, and selective operational disruptions are inconsistent with the image, aspirations and strategic objectives of a modern maritime industry," the paper asserted.
Proposed Solutions and Regulatory Action
SEREC outlined a multi-point plan to address the core issues and prevent future disruptive conflicts. The centre's key recommendations include:
- The establishment of an industry-wide shipping charges review forum involving all regulators and stakeholders.
- Mandatory cost-justification disclosures from shipping lines for any proposed tariff adjustments.
- The development of a national port cost benchmarking framework.
- The strengthening of professional regulatory enforcement to promote orderly advocacy.
- The institutionalisation of formal dispute resolution and arbitration mechanisms.
SEREC warned that the current protest tactics expose practitioners to significant legal, civil, and reputational risks. It argued that such actions undermine years of effort to professionalise freight forwarding and create avoidable collateral damage for importers and indigenous businesses.
Root Causes and the Need for Transparency
The research group highlighted the systemic problems fueling the disputes. It noted that shipping and ancillary port charges have risen sharply over the years, far outpacing improvements in service quality. SEREC pointed out that many traditional justifications for hikes, such as foreign exchange volatility and energy costs, have stabilised recently.
The cumulative impact of unchecked charges is inflationary, harming businesses, consumers, and Nigeria's economic competitiveness, the centre stated. SEREC placed blame on the absence of firm, transparent, and enforceable oversight, which it says encourages arbitrary pricing and the abuse of dominant market positions.
Consequently, SEREC urged the industry's economic regulator to assert its mandate by establishing clear tariff review frameworks, enforcing cost transparency, and ensuring meaningful stakeholder consultation. It concluded that modern advocacy must rely on structured engagement, evidence-based pressure, and established institutional channels, rather than physical confrontation.
