The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced plans to implement a 15% tariff increase after securing the necessary approvals.
The agency emphasized that its tariffs had remained unchanged since 1993, making this review essential for modernizing port infrastructure and improving competitiveness.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Thursday, NPA Managing Director Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho explained that the adjustment was crucial for aligning Nigerian ports with global standards.
He highlighted that port authorities worldwide rely on operational revenue to sustain infrastructure development, enhance efficiency, and attract international trade.
However, industry operators have warned that the tariff hike could drive up the cost of doing business nationwide, leading to increased commodity prices.
Dantsoho argued that the increase was a necessary step to reclaim Nigeria’s cargo handling business, which has suffered due to competition from neighboring countries. He noted that delays in implementing a Port Community System (PCS) and a National Single Window (NSW) had contributed to inefficiencies and additional costs within the sector.
Despite concerns over higher costs, the NPA boss assured stakeholders that the tariff review would accelerate port reconstruction and modernization efforts.
He stated that the additional revenue would facilitate key projects, including the reconstruction of collapsed Escravos breakwaters and improvements at Rivers, Onne, and Calabar ports.
Dantsoho also emphasized that upgrading the ports’ ICT backbone—critical for the PCS and NSW—would reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, enhance transparency, and ultimately improve the ease of doing business at Nigerian ports.