The Nigerian maritime sector is on edge over indications that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) may significantly increase licensing and renewal fees for customs agents and bonded terminals from January 2026 — a move industry leaders warn could trigger inflation, shrink competition, and unsettle the already fragile logistics ecosystem.
According to a document circulating within maritime circles and sighted by our correspondent, the proposed fee adjustment could see the cost of obtaining a new customs agent licence skyrocket to ₦10 million, up from the current ₦215,000. Renewal fees, likewise, could jump to ₦4 million, while bonded terminal renewal charges could leap from ₦60,000 to ₦10 million, and new licences could hit ₦20 million.
Although the NCS has since distanced itself from the figures, describing them as unsubstantiated, the mere suggestion has sent ripples through the industry, prompting urgent calls for stakeholder consultations and impact assessments before any policy shift is finalised.
Speaking to our correspondent, Frank Ogunojemite, National President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), said any substantial hike in licensing fees would inevitably raise the cost of clearing goods at Nigerian ports — a development likely to feed into higher prices for essential goods and services.
“The increase will fuel inflation, as the additional costs incurred during both import and export processes will inevitably be passed on to end-users,” Ogunojemite warned.
Beyond inflationary risks, he noted that the new structure could prove unsustainable for small and medium-sized clearing firms, forcing many to close shop and leaving the industry in the hands of a few deep-pocketed operators.
“For many struggling freight forwarders and clearing firms, the elevated licensing costs could be unsustainable, potentially pushing smaller operators out of the market. The industry may become dominated by a few large players, stifling competition,” he added.
Industry analysts say that while fee adjustments can be justified to reflect regulatory costs and improve sector governance, such steep hikes could undermine Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, especially against neighbouring ports in Benin, Togo, and Ghana, where charges are comparatively lower.
A maritime policy consultant, who requested anonymity, told our correspondent that higher licensing fees without corresponding improvements in port infrastructure, automation, and cargo clearance times would be “a regressive tax” on trade.
“If the NCS wants to increase fees, it should first ensure that agents are benefiting from faster clearance processes, reduced bottlenecks, and improved security. Otherwise, we’re simply making Nigerian ports less attractive to shippers,” the consultant said.
Reacting to the reports, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, denied that the figures in circulation were official or approved. He emphasised that the Service is still in the process of engaging with relevant stakeholders before any decision is taken.
“There is nothing of such by the Service at the moment,” Maiwada stated, urging industry players to rely on official communications rather than speculative documents.
Nevertheless, sources within the maritime sector say preliminary discussions on revising licensing frameworks have been ongoing for months, driven in part by the NCS’s broader revenue mobilisation strategy.
Stakeholders, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), are urging the Customs Service to adopt a graduated fee structure that considers the financial capacity of different operator categories.
They argue that a one-size-fits-all increase would disadvantage smaller firms, reduce diversity in the industry, and erode the resilience of Nigeria’s supply chain.
With the January 2026 implementation date still months away, industry watchers say the coming weeks will be crucial for negotiations, especially as Nigeria grapples with double-digit inflation, high interest rates, and volatile exchange rates that already pressure importers and logistics operators.
“This is a litmus test for stakeholder engagement in the maritime sector,” Ogunojemite stressed. “If we get it wrong, the ripple effects could be felt in every Nigerian household.”