Nigeria’s maritime and logistics sector is on edge today as freight forwarders and clearing agents launch a coordinated resistance against the “dollarization” of local shipping services.
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, various industry associations, led by the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), condemned the recent move by major shipping lines to sell empty containers exclusively in United States dollars.
The controversy was triggered by a public advertisement from a prominent shipping group offering 20ft and 40ft units for $1,600 and $2,000 respectively, a practice agents argue is a direct blow to the Naira and a violation of the Federal Government’s economic stabilization policies.
Frank Ogunojemite, the National President of APFFLON, described the move as “economically disruptive” and a sabotage of the “Renewed Hope” agenda. Speaking from Lagos, Ogunojemite questioned why assets physically located within Nigerian territory are being priced in a foreign currency, especially when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is preparing to enforce a stricter de-dollarization policy starting May 1, 2026.
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The freight forwarders maintain that this practice places an impossible burden on local importers who earn in Naira but are now forced to source scarce dollars for basic logistics equipment.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the nation’s port economic regulator, has already been pulled into the fray. Lauretta Dimpka and other top officials are reportedly reviewing the legality of these charges under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act.
This latest clash follows a series of protests in March 2026, where agents picketed the offices of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and others over “war surcharges” and arbitrary tariff hikes. While shipping lines argue that the dollarized rates are necessary to cover the rising international costs of equipment replacement and global logistics, agents insist that such justifications ignore the financial reality of the Nigerian market.
As of Tuesday afternoon, April 28, there are reports of a brewing industrial action that could see a total shutdown of activities at the Ports across the country including Rivers State if the dollarized sales are not withdrawn.
The freight forwarding community has called on the CBN and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to enforce strict compliance with local currency laws. With the May 1st de-dollarization deadline just days away, this standoff is being viewed as a critical test of the government’s resolve to protect the Naira within the multi-billion dollar maritime trade.
