By Aisha Cole | Lagos, Oct. 29, 2025 (NAN)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on members of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) to unite against arbitrary shipping surcharges that undermine trade competitiveness in West and Central Africa.
The call was made by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, during the Sub-Regional Seminar and Meeting of UASC Standing Committee No. 1 on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), held in Lagos from October 29 to 30. The two-day event drew delegates from 19 member countries and maritime stakeholders.
“Arbitrary surcharges and high freight rates erode competitiveness and burden importers and exporters. Our goal is to build a resilient maritime system that supports sustainable growth,” Oyetola said.
The seminar, themed “The Readiness of Countries of West and Central Africa in the Implementation of the AfCFTA — The Role of Shippers’ Councils,” focused on strategies to improve trade readiness under the AfCFTA agreement.
Oyetola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, stressed that national shippers’ councils must act as regulators and defenders of shippers’ interests across the sub-region, ensuring transparent shipping practices and fair freight charges.
“Effective regulation would reduce trade costs and boost the competitiveness of African exports globally,” he added, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to implementing resolutions from the meeting.
Shippers’ Councils and AfCFTA Readiness
Dr. Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, highlighted that the AfCFTA provides reliable information platforms for cross-border shippers and creates opportunities to strengthen regional trade.
“AfCFTA is an ambitious African Union project establishing a single market of 1.4 billion people with a $3 trillion GDP,” Akutah said.
“Shippers’ Councils must act as regulators and advocates to ensure fair competition and efficient movement of goods.”
He added that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, as the port economic regulator, is promoting multimodal transport and Inland Dry Ports to enhance readiness for AfCFTA implementation.
UASC and Regional Collaboration
Mr. Abdurahman Kafiugou, Secretary-General of UASC, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to fostering cooperation and supporting AfCFTA objectives. He praised Nigeria and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for advancing regional trade and described the Lagos meeting as a milestone in harmonising trade practices and improving logistics efficiency.
“These issues are vital to reducing bottlenecks and improving competitiveness,” Kafiugou said, urging experts to propose actionable recommendations.
Supporting Institutions Highlight Infrastructure and Digitalisation
Representatives from other key maritime institutions emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to support AfCFTA readiness:
- Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, represented by Emmanuel Oshoba of the Apapa Area Command, stressed the importance of sustainable pricing mechanisms and aligning customs procedures with AfCFTA to enhance economic integration.
- Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, highlighted the importance of digitalisation and modern port infrastructure. NIMASA has been working to digitalise maritime operations and promote a fully integrated port community system, in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and UASC members.
The Lagos meeting follows previous initiatives, including the February 2024 Luanda meeting, aimed at harmonising trade practices and improving logistics efficiency across West and Central Africa.
The seminar underlined that collective action, regulatory oversight, and digital innovation are key to positioning the sub-region as a competitive bloc under AfCFTA, capable of reducing trade costs, enhancing transparency, and improving global competitiveness of African exports.
Reporting by Aisha Cole | Edited by Naija247news Business Desk, Lagos
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