Oyetola charges UASC to safeguard shippers’ interest and engage shipping lines on freight charges

Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has advised member States of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) to engage shipping lines and international partners to ensure transparency, fairness, and equity in the determination of surcharges and freight rates.

Oyetola further advised the UASC to ensure that its goal must be to establish mutually beneficial frameworks that safeguard shippers’ interests while ensuring the sustainability of shipping services.

The Minister gave this advice while declaring open a two-day subregional seminar and meeting of the Standing Committee No 1 on Trade and Transport of the UASC in Lagos on Wednesday October 29, 2025.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oloruntola, Oyetola, who said the theme of the seminar, “The Readiness of Countries of West and Central Africa in the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – The Role of Shippers’ Councils”, was both timely and strategic, said “It reflects our collective determination to ensure that the AfCFTA becomes not just a framework on paper, but a practical instrument for driving industrialization, trade expansion, and inclusive prosperity across Africa.

“The AfCFTA presents our continent with an unprecedented opportunity, a single market of over 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP exceeding $3 trillion. For the West and Central African sub-region, the Agreement provides a viable pathway for deeper regional integration, export diversification, and enhanced participation in continental and global value chains.

“However, to unlock these opportunities, we must confront persistent constraints, particularly in transport logistics, trade facilitation, port efficiency, and shipping costs. These are areas where National Shippers’ Councils must play a decisive and proactive role, aligning their interventions with the objectives of the African Union and the implementation roadmap of AfCFTA.

“Across the sub-region, Shippers’ Councils occupy a strategic position as advocates of shippers’ interests and regulators of port economic activities. By promoting fair freight rates, transparent shipping practices, and efficient cargo movement, they help reduce the cost of trade and enhance the competitiveness of African exports.”

On what Nigeria is doing to promote multimodal transportation, Oyetola has this to say “In Nigeria, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), our Port Economic Regulator continues to implement policies that strengthen port efficiency, multimodal transport connectivity, and digital trade facilitation. These initiatives are designed to ensure that Nigerian ports and transport corridors serve as competitive gateways for intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework.

“We also recognize the importance of fostering regional collaboration in the development of transport corridors, inland dry ports, and logistics hubs. A case in point is the Kaduna Inland Dry Port, which supports both domestic and transit trade for landlocked countries. Such projects demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to bringing shipping and logistics services closer to the hinterland and promoting regional trade inclusivity.”

On freight charge
According to Oyetola, “One of the issues for discussion at Meeting of the Standing Committee No.1 is “The Effect of Peak Season Surcharge Recently Introduced by Shipping Lines on the Economies of West and Central Africa”. This highlights a recurring challenge in our sub-region. Arbitrary surcharges and high freight rates continue to erode trade competitiveness, placing undue burdens on our importers and exporters.

“It is, therefore, imperative that member States, through UASC, engage constructively with shipping lines and international partners to ensure transparency, fairness, and equity in the determination of surcharges and freight rates. Our goal must be to establish mutually beneficial frameworks that safeguard shippers’ interests while ensuring the sustainability of shipping services.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria continues to invest in critical transport infrastructure to support trade facilitation from railway modernization and road corridor expansion, to the development of deep seaports and inland dry ports. These projects are part of our national strategy to enhance logistics performance and support intra-African trade.

“Equally significant is Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which complements AfCFTA objectives by simplifying customs procedures and reducing cross-border trade costs.”

The Minister pointed out that achieving the full potential of AfCFTA requires strong partnerships among member States, the private sector, regional organizations, and development partners such as UNCTAD, Global Shippers’ Forum, whose continued technical support to UASC and its member institutions remains invaluable.

“Let us use this forum to strengthen collaboration, share best practices, and develop harmonized policies that promote efficient, secure, and competitive shipping and trade systems across our sub-region.

“I urge all participants to focus on practical and actionable outcomes that will position our sub-region to fully harness the opportunities of AfCFTA. Let us commit to building a resilient maritime transport system that supports inclusive growth, regional integration, and sustainable economic development.”

He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to implementing the resolutions and communiqué arising from this Seminar and Meeting of Standing Committee.

“Together, we can make West and Central Africa a model of effective cooperation and readiness under the AfCFTA,” he concluded.

The seminar was organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.