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The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has fired a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for an immediate reduction of the controversial 7% surcharge on cargo clearance at Nigerian ports, warning that the levy is pushing businesses to the brink in the face of worsening economic hardship.
In a letter addressed to the President, APFFLON’s National President, Frank Ogunojemite, described the surcharge as “an unsustainable burden” at a time when inflation is spiraling, the naira is plummeting, and operating costs have hit record highs.
According to Ogunojemite, the charge originally justified for port infrastructure development has lost relevance since most terminals are now in private hands, with users seeing “no direct value or improved service” in return.
Instead, he said, it has become a cost multiplier, inflating import prices, crippling supply chains, and forcing legitimate traders toward financial collapse.
While acknowledging the government’s revenue drive, APFFLON warned that “burdening trade stakeholders at such a fragile economic moment risks stifling productivity, discouraging formal trade, and fueling inflation.”
The group is demanding a downward review of the surcharge, a full audit of its revenue usage, and stakeholder consultations to create a fair and transparent port pricing system.
Ogunojemite argued that slashing the levy now would send a strong signal of the President’s commitment to inclusive economic recovery, ease of doing business, and stakeholder engagement.
APFFLON, however, pledged its readiness to work with government on reforms that prioritize “national interest and economic revival” in the maritime and blue economy sector.
