18 hours Ago By Guardian Nigeria
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has appealed to the Federal Government to address the rising shipping cost in and out of the country. The association emphasised the need for Nigeria’s shipment costs to compete with neighbouring countries. The cost of shipping a 40-foot container from China to Nigeria has risen to $8,500, compared to Ghana’s $3,500 and $3,000 (for Togo).
The National President of APFFLON, Frank Ogunojemite, made this appeal in his New Year message. He also called on the Federal Government to implement a stable exchange rate policy, noting that the volatility of FX rates in 2024 led to a significant drop in imports while the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) duties increased disproportionately. Ogunojemite urged the NCS, a key player in the port and land border business chain, to strictly adhere to its enabling Act.
He advised the agency to prioritise trade facilitation over excessive revenue generation to ensure seamless cargo transactions. “In 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service made commendable efforts to promote trade in compliance with its Act but fell short in some areas. The Service placed excessive emphasis on revenue generation at the expense of trade facilitation and stakeholder engagement,” Ogunojemite said.
He said revenue generation is essential, particularly in promoting the export of indigenous goods, which creates funds for infrastructure development. However, Ogunojemite said this should not come at the expense of international trade, which is the primary revenue source. He said growth in international trade would naturally lead to increased revenue, surpassing what the Customs Service generated in 2024.
Ogunojemite emphasised the need for a favourable business environment in 2025, urging the government to foster collaboration among agencies and ensure a stable exchange rate to support importers and exporters. The APFFLON president also expressed concern over the frequent cargo seizures by Customs in 2024, stating that such actions harmed the economy. He criticised the auctioning of seized goods at undervalued rates and called on importers, freight forwarders and Customs agents to avoid a non-compliance and incorrect declaration of consignments.
Furthermore, Ogunojemite lamented the lack of progress by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), stating that it had failed to make meaningful decisions or achieve significant impact since its establishment. He announced plans for APFFLON’s national body to introduce a manpower development programme aimed at enhancing the capacity of freight forwarders to keep pace with the evolving nature of the profession..
