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NSC decries insinuation of recanting on tariff increase under pressure, laments legal cobweb entangles ICTN take- off

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has spurned widely- held view that the decision to recant its stand on tariff increase and the prolonged delay in kicking off the International Cargo Tracking Nite(ICTN) was due to the intense pressure by stakeholders.
Making the denial in an interview with journalists, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Pius Akutah, maintained that all actions taken by the agency are guided strictly by law, due process, and extensive stakeholder consultations rather than external pressure or inconsistency in policy direction.
He explained that tariff regulation is a core statutory responsibility of the Council under Sections 5 and 6 of the Port Economic Regulations 2025, stressing that the NSC acted within its legal mandate in approving adjustments after years of sustained pressure from service providers who had repeatedly demanded significant increases due to rising operational costs.
Akutah noted that for more than two and a half years, no tariff review had been implemented despite inflationary trends, increasing cost of operations, and multiple requests from industry players, some of which ranged between 150 percent and 300 percent increases, which the Council had to carefully moderate in order to prevent wider economic disruption.
He maintained that tariff adjustment in the maritime sector cannot be treated as a profit-driven exercise but rather as part of broader sectoral development and investment sustainability.
The NSC boss added that any decision must take into account key macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, GDP performance, and the potential impact on national trade.
According to him, the Council deliberately adopted a cautious approach given that over 80 percent of Nigeria’s trade is dependent on maritime transport, warning that excessive tariff hikes could have immediate ripple effects across the economy.
On the concerns that shipping companies were introducing exploitative charges and that the regulator was merely reacting to crises, he dismissed the allegation, stating that the Council did not act arbitrarily but approved a structured adjustment framework of about 35 percent, which was designed as a flexible band rather than a fixed rate.
He explained that operators were allowed to implement within an approved range, typically between 10 and 20 percent depending on their operational realities, while cautioning that any over-implementation would distort competitiveness in the sector.
Reacting to suggestions that recent disputes in the industry signaled instability or regulatory failure, Akutah clarified that the tensions were not systemic but largely isolated to a disagreement between Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and its stakeholders.
He said other shipping companies successfully concluded their stakeholder engagements without incident, adding that the situation with MSC stemmed from a breakdown in agreement during consultations rather than any regulatory lapse.
Akutah disclosed that he personally intervened during a protest at MSC premises to de-escalate tensions and encouraged dialogue, noting that regulatory engagement must always remain the preferred route for resolving disputes in the sector.
Addressing concerns about regulatory interference, he warned against what he described as regulatory capture, arguing that undue external pressure on a statutory regulator could undermine transparency and distort the balance required to protect both shippers and service providers.
 He emphasized that the Council’s role is to maintain equilibrium in the industry, not to favour one side over another, stressing that the collapse of any segment of the value chain would ultimately affect national trade.
On the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), Akutah acknowledged delays in implementation but attributed them to a complex web of legal disputes, court cases, and historical inconsistencies surrounding the project.
 He explained that the Council is currently working with the Ministry of Justice to resolve outstanding litigation involving some stakeholders before full rollout can proceed, noting that the objective is to ensure a seamless and legally sound implementation that will not be subject to further suspension.
He reaffirmed that ICTN remains critical to improving cargo security, enhancing tracking efficiency, and safeguarding national revenue, but stressed that the Council must ensure all legal bottlenecks are resolved to avoid operational setbacks.
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NRC suspends Warri- Itakpe train service over operational concerns

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the temporary suspension of  Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) due to what the management described as operational exigency and  technical advice from  the Corporation’s Engineers.
The temporary suspension, according to a public statement by the NRC, has become necessary to enable the Corporation carry out critical operational assessments  aimed at ensuring continued safety, reliability, and improved service delivery on the corridor.
“The NRC regrets the inconvenience this development may cause passengers and other stakeholders, and assures the public that efforts are currently ongoing to resolve the issues within the shortest possible time.
“Passengers and intending travelers will be duly informed before the end of the week on the date for the resumption of normal train operations.
“The Corporation remains committed to safe, efficient, and customer-friendly rail services across the country and appreciates the understanding, patience, and continued support of the public during this period” the NRC declared.
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Sallah: FG slashes train fares by 50 percent on all routes 

Gloria Odion, reporter 
The Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation has announced a 50 percent fare reduction on all train services operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as part of measures to ease transportation costs for Nigerians during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The discount takes effect from Tuesday, May 26, 2026 and will run through Monday, June 1, 2026.
Accordingly, ticket fares on all NRC passenger train services across the country have been reduced by 50 percent of the existing approved rates within the stated period.
Passengers who had earlier purchased tickets at the full fare before the announcement will be entitled to a 50 percent rebate, reusable for train rides on or before Monday, June 1st, 2026.
Train schedules and timetables remain as previously advertised.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation said it appreciated the continued support of Nigerians and wishes all passengers and the Muslim faithful a peaceful and joyous Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
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Salah: NIWA MD threatens to wield big stick on violators of safety guidelines on waterways 

— calls for calm over Supreme Court judgement 
Funso OLOJO,Editor 
The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Umar Yusuf Girei, has issued a stern warning to boat operators across the country to strictly adhere to waterways safety regulations during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Girei gave the warning during an exclusive interview with journalists at the NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, noting that festive periods often witness increased movement on the inland waterways, particularly within riverine communities.
According to him, compliance with safety measures during the Sallah season remains non-negotiable.
He stressed that overloading of boats would not be tolerated, while the use of life jackets by all passengers and operators remains compulsory.
Girei also warned against night travel, alcohol consumption by operators, and disregard for weather advisories.
“No overload, wearing of life jackets is mandatory, no night travel, no alcohol, and operators must ensure proper weather checks before embarking on any journey,” he stated.
The NIWA Acting MD further disclosed that enforcement teams, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, would be deployed across jetties nationwide to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations.
He warned that violators risk arrest, seizure of vessels, and prosecution.
Girei also urged passengers to avoid boarding overloaded boats, vessels without adequate life jackets, or boats attempting to operate at night.
While extending Eid-el-Kabir greetings to Muslim faithfuls, he appealed to community and religious leaders to help amplify waterways safety awareness during sermons and public gatherings.
Meanwhile, the NIWA boss advised stakeholders and clients of the Authority not to panic over the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning aspects of the NIWA Act.
He explained that the apex court upheld the Authority’s statutory responsibilities relating to inland waterways navigation, safety regulation, channel management, river infrastructure development, and the promotion of inland waterways transportation as contained in Sections 10 and 11 of the NIWA Act.
According to him, Sections 12 and 13 of the Act, which deal with land matters unrelated to maritime activities, were voided by the Supreme Court only to the extent of their inconsistency with the Constitution.
Girei therefore urged all stakeholders to remain calm, law-abiding, and await an official statement from NIWA after the Authority obtains the Certified True Copy of the judgment from the Supreme Court.
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