Nigerian importers may soon feel the pinch of higher importation costs as French shipping giant CMA CGM has announced a $500 Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on cargo bound for ports in Nigeria and other West African countries.
The surcharge, which takes effect September 15, 2025, was officially disclosed by the company via a notice on its website and will apply until further notice.
According to the announcement, the surcharge affects shipments originating from North-East Asia, South-East Asia, China, and the Hong Kong & Macau SAR, with the new charge applicable to both dry and reefer containers under short-term contracts. The amount will be charged per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container.
“In a continued effort to provide our customers with reliable and efficient services, CMA CGM informs its customers of the following Peak Season Surcharge… $500 per TEU,” the company stated in its advisory.
The move has sparked backlash from freight stakeholders in Nigeria, who have described the surcharge as exploitative and damaging to efforts aimed at reducing the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports.
Stakeholders Slam Surcharge, Fault Regulatory Oversight
Reacting to the development, former Interim National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Pius Ujubuonu, criticized the surcharge, calling it an “act of exploitation.” Ujubuonu, who currently serves as Head of Planning and Strategy at ANLCA, accused the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) of failing to effectively regulate shipping charges.
“That is absolute exploitation. The Peak Season Surcharge is supposed to reflect increased transaction volumes, a boom period and should benefit the shipping lines, not become a burden on importers,” he said.
He further compared the new fee to the War Risk Insurance Premium, which he described as another unjustified cost passed on to importers.
“The problem is that we have a Shippers Council that doesn’t fully understand what steps to take or avoid. We will be calling their attention to this immediately,” Ujubuonu added.
Also weighing in, the Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Segun Musa, warned that the surcharge could further strain Nigeria’s import landscape.
“It may appear small at face value, but this surcharge adds significantly to the cost of doing business at the ports. It undermines ongoing efforts by the government to ease port operations,” Musa said.
He called on stakeholders across the sector to urgently convene discussions to examine the broader implications of the new fee on Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
Broader Impact on Nigerian Trade
Industry insiders have repeatedly flagged high port charges and poor regulatory coordination as major obstacles to trade in Nigeria. With the latest surcharge coming from one of the world’s largest shipping lines, importers may face steeper overheads just as the final quarter of the year a traditionally busy import season approaches.
So far, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has not issued a formal response to the surcharge. Industry groups are expected to pressure the regulator for intervention in the coming days.
