By Abdullai Abiodun
The Federal Government has urged African member states to unite against arbitrary shipping surcharges and unfair freight practices that continue to raise logistics costs and weaken trade competitiveness across West and Central Africa.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the call at the opening of the Sub-Regional Seminar and Meeting of the Union of African Shippers' Councils (UASC) Standing Committee in Lagos. The two-day session, hosted by the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), gathered representatives from 19 African countries, trade experts, and maritime regulators to chart strategies for improving trade readiness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Oyetola, represented by Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oloruntola, noted that arbitrary freight charges and surcharges have become a major barrier to Africa's intra-continental trade growth. He said the situation places small businesses, exporters, and importers at a disadvantage, inflating the cost of goods and eroding Africa's competitiveness in global markets.
"High and arbitrary shipping costs continue to undermine regional trade competitiveness. We must engage constructively with shipping lines and partners to promote fairness, transparency, and sustainability in freight pricing," Oyetola stated.
He described AfCFTA as a "transformational opportunity" that could give Africa access to a single market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion, but warned that poor logistics and unfair freight practices could erode these gains.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to implementing resolutions from the Lagos meeting, stressing that collaboration among maritime regulators, trade agencies, and private sector players is key to realising AfCFTA's economic benefits.
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The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers' Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, said the AfCFTA framework presents Africa with an opportunity to boost industrial capacity, deepen regional integration, and attract investment into the logistics and maritime sectors.
He disclosed that the Council has intensified efforts to improve port efficiency, expand inland dry ports, and promote multimodal transport systems to support cross-border trade and ease logistics bottlenecks for SMEs and exporters.
"Our focus is to make trade cheaper, faster, and more transparent. Arbitrary surcharges limit the growth of local businesses, and it's time we speak with one voice as a region to address them," Akutah said.
In his remarks, Secretary-General of UASC, Abdurahman Abba Kafougou, commended Nigeria's leadership role in promoting fair shipping practices and harmonised trade policies. He explained that the forum's resolutions will guide future reforms to reduce trade costs and improve the competitiveness of African economies.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by Nneka Obiano, added that Africa's trade growth depends heavily on the digitalisation of port operations and the development of integrated logistics infrastructure.
Similarly, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, emphasised the need to align customs processes with AfCFTA protocols to eliminate trade barriers and boost regional commerce.
As the UASC meeting continues, stakeholders are expected to produce actionable resolutions aimed at harmonising maritime regulations, improving logistics efficiency, and empowering African businesses to thrive under the $3 trillion AfCFTA trade framework.
