Port Exploitation: How Policy Clashes Let Terminal Operators Milk Importers, Agents - CRFFN

We Introduced Measures To Weed Out Unlicensed Foreign Operators  - Kingsley Igwe 

Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria - October 7, 2026: The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, has blamed persistent policy somersaults and conflicting agency roles for the ongoing challenges surrounding indiscriminate terminal charges at the nation’s ports. 

CRFFN Register, Kingsley Igwe 

According to the CRFFN register, Registrar, Kingsley Igwe, the regulatory overlapping among government authorities has weakened the collective capacity to strictly enforce fair pricing and hold errant terminal operators accountable.

This reaction follows growing complaints from clearing agents and freight forwarders who allege that port terminal operators are deliberately slowing down cargo handling processes. 

Stakeholders claim that these intentional delays are designed to artificially extend cargo stay periods, allowing operators to rack up exorbitant storage fees ranging from N70,000 to N200,000 per cargo.

Addressing these concerns, the CRFFN clarified that while it closely monitors these operational challenges, the direct enforcement and penalisation of such inefficiencies lie outside its immediate mandate. 

The Council noted that other sister agencies are explicitly empowered by the federal government to manage terminal operator excesses, meaning the CRFFN must rely on advocacy rather than direct penalties to drive compliance.

To address these systemic bottlenecks without creating friction within the government, the CRFFN actively engages with key bodies, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, which has transformed into the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency, NPERA,  

Through routine stakeholder engagements and joint communiqués, the Council ensures these grievances are formally communicated to the appropriate quarters to foster necessary corrections.

Beyond terminal disputes, the CRFFN has introduced sweeping reforms into its licensing regime by prioritizing Nigerian operators under the framework of the newly implemented National Single Window, NSW. 

While the initial transition remains challenging, the Council aims to gradually phase out foreign entities that fail to meet strict local practicing criteria.

Under the new regulatory guidelines, foreign operators will only be permitted to practice if they introduce specialized high-tech services or inject massive capital investments.