Concerns are mounting at Onne Port in Rivers State, as freight forwarders warn that a 7 percent import surcharge and rising shipping costs could threaten revenue if the ongoing protest persists.
Customs agents under four associations, led by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, have begun picketing the offices of Pacific International Lines, halting business with the shipping firm over what they describe as multiple taxation and unapproved increases in charges.
Other groups involved include the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders.
The protest is centred on complaints that both the Nigeria Customs Service and shipping lines are imposing a 7 percent surcharge on the same transactions, a situation agents say amounts to double-billing.
Industry leaders argue that the levy is already embedded in customs duty payments and should not reappear on shipping invoices.
Stakeholders also accuse Pacific International Lines of raising freight charges without proper consultation, contrary to guidance from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which had advised engagement with port users before any upward review.
Sources at the Nigeria Customs Service Area II Command have expressed concern that prolonged disruption could affect port revenue.
Despite this, the command reported a 15.4 percent increase in revenue collection in 2025 compared with 2024, attributing the performance to stakeholder cooperation.
Customs officials have meanwhile urged operators to strictly comply with documentation requirements, warning that poor paperwork remains a major cause of clearance delays at the port.
