Tax Reforms Spark Tension as Shipping Lines Plan Hikes

There appears to be palpable tension among freight forwarding practitioners in the nation’s maritime sector over the tax implementation that kicked off on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Some agents who spoke with The PUNCH explained that some shipping lines have already started holding meetings over possible fare increases.

Starting January 1, 2026, the Federal Government will implement a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s tax system. These reforms are among the most significant in decades and aim to simplify taxation, promote growth, expand compliance, and ease burdens on low-income earners.

The reform is part of a broader fiscal policy designed by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to modernise the tax system, enhance revenue collection efficiency, and improve Nigeria’s economic competitiveness. The implementation date of January 1, 2026, was reaffirmed by the government despite some political controversy over legislative documentation.

Speaking on the implementation of the tax reforms in the nation’s maritime industry, the Head of Department, Shipping, Air and Terminal Logistics at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr Ugochukwu Nnadi, said that two different shipping companies met on Tuesday.

“They are meeting with plans to increase their freight charges because they wouldn’t like to be caught unawares. Nobody wants to be caught unawares. They haven’t implemented the law, and they have already started manipulating it, so nobody would want to be caught unawares. They are making preparations about it,” Nnadi said.

Also speaking, the Apapa Chapter Chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Abayomi Duyile, stressed that the implementation of the tax policy would definitely affect their operations.

“It is going to affect us. You know most of the money we spend on clearing goods comes with receipts, like shipping, terminal, and other charges. So when you tax such money, it is definitely going to affect us,” he said.

Duyile also kicked against the planned freight increase by some shipping companies.

“They want to increase, and we are saying no, that they should wait till the fourth week in January. Let’s meet and discuss with our members. If they increase, we are going to picket them, because the increment is getting too much. They did an increment last year; it is creating tension at the ports,” he concluded.