Tariff Hike: Shippers Council Calls for Dialogue as MSC Protest Continues

Freight forwarders protesting the recent increase in shipping line tariffs have been urged to pursue dialogue instead of industrial action, as tensions continue to rise at the offices of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The call came from the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Akutah Pius, following the picketing of the shipping company’s premises.

The protesting freight forwarders rejected efforts by the Council to open discussions, insisting that there was no justification for negotiations while the new tariff regime remains in place. They maintained that the protest would continue on Monday until the charges are reversed.

Akutah stressed that dialogue offers a more constructive and efficient path for resolving disputes within the maritime industry. According to him, prolonged confrontations between operators and stakeholders could disrupt port activities and create wider consequences for trade and economic stability.

The Council also criticized the conduct of some protesters after regulators were prevented from accessing the MSC office to address the situation. Akutah recalled that the Council previously stepped in during an earlier protest over the same issue and secured a two-day suspension of the disputed charges to allow room for engagement, reaffirming its role as a mediator between shipping companies and freight forwarders.