There appears to be noticeable concern among freight forwarding practitioners in the nation’s maritime sector regarding the tax implementation, which began on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Some agents who spoke with The Punch indicated that some shipping companies have already begun holding meetings to discuss prospective fare rises.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the federal government will implement a thorough revamp of the nation’s tax structure. These measures, among the most substantial in decades, aim to simplify taxation, encourage growth, increase compliance, and reduce costs on low-income taxpayers.
The change is part of a larger fiscal policy designed by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to modernize the tax system, increase revenue collection efficiency, and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness. The administration reiterated the implementation date of January 1, 2026, despite significant political debate regarding statutory documents.
Speaking on the implementation of tax reforms in the nation’s maritime business, Mr. Ugochukwu Nnadi, Head of Department, Shipping, Air, and Terminal Logistics at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, stated that two separate 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.
