The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised concerns over what it described as arbitrary and unilateral increases in shipping charges by some shipping companies operating at the Apapa ports in Lagos.

The association conveyed its concerns in a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council at Park Lane, Apapa. A copy of the letter was also forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western Command), Apapa.

The correspondence, titled “Administrative Overreach: The Non-Consensual and Arbitrary Increase of Shipping Charges in Breach of Established Procedure and Protocol,” was received on March 12 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Following the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Western Command, convened a meeting with members of the NAGAFF leadership to deliberate on the issue.

Among those present were Mr. Bert Okeke, Secretary and representative of NAGAFF Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko; Mr. Uche Nwabude, Operational Head; Chief Raf Nwoye, Technical Director; and eight other members of the association.

During the meeting, NAGAFF representatives expressed dissatisfaction with the immediate and unilateral adjustments to shipping charges by certain operators. According to the association, the changes were implemented without prior notification to freight forwarders or other port service users.

NAGAFF argued that such actions undermine established procedures guiding port operations and trade facilitation.

In her remarks, the Commissioner of Police commended the association for following due process by engaging the appropriate authorities before escalating the matter.

She encouraged NAGAFF members to remain law-abiding and advised them to obtain police clearance before organizing any picketing or protest actions.

The commissioner also urged the association to suspend any planned industrial action pending mediation by the Nigerian Shippers Council. She stressed the importance of continued collaboration and coordination between law enforcement agencies and maritime stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted trade activities at the ports.