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By Steve Agbota
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), has said that it successfully saved shippers over N175.8 million and another $30,00 in the second quarter of 2025, through its speedy resultion of complaints lodged by stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry.
According to the recent NSC quarterly newsletter made available at the weekend, the Council received a total of 40 complaints between April and June 2025 from different groups of stakeholders, including importers, exporters, shipping companies, agents, and an oil and gas firm.
The report indicated that the majority of the grievances were lodged against shipping companies and their agents, accounting for 21 out of the 40 complaints.
Other complaints were directed against seaport terminal operators (8), government agencies (3), exporters (1), importers (3), de-consolidators (2), freight forwarders/clearing agents (1), and one oil and gas company.
The nature of the complaints varied widely, ranging from arbitrary charges (5), container deposit refund delays (5), wrong port of discharge (1), failure in service delivery (4), storage/demurrage waiver disputes (4), damaged cargo (3), theft (2), missing containers (3), unreturned containers (3), container blockage (4), overstayed cargo (1), claims recovery (1), delay in container positioning for scanning (1), double jetty fees (1), and delay in transfer of containers.
Out of the 40 complaints, the Council confirmed that 21 have been fully resolved, 18 ongoing, while one was closed without resolution.
As part of its intervention, the NSC successfully mediated over a major dispute involving alleged arbitrary groupage charges of N4.2 million imposed on raw materials imported for school bag production by Le Look Nigeria Ltd.
The shipment, consisting of 17.54 cubic meters of fabric webbing and machine accessories imported from Shenzhen, China, was handled by Fortune Global Shipping and Logistics Nigeria Limited, Lagos.
Le Look Nigeria Limited petitioned the Council after being charged N180,000 per CBM, totaling N4.2 million, by the de-consolidator, which also withheld access to the cargo unless full payment was made. At a mediation meeting chaired by Mr. Bashir Ambi-Mohammed, Head of the NSC’s Complaints Unit, the Council intervened by engaging both parties.
Fortune Global Shipping defended its charges through its LCL Manager, Mr. O. Kingsley, arguing that the fees covered shipping line costs, terminal handling, transportation, and warehousing at its modern facilities.
The company initially offered a 10 per cent waiver (N400,000) but later conceded to a 50% discount, reducing the charge to N2.1 million after NSC’s intervention.
Ambi emphasised that the Council does not dictate waiver decisions but steps in when charges appear “unguided or belligerent.”
He added: “All invoicing activities must halt once a dispute is formally reported to the NSC and under investigation.”
Expressing relief, Chief Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, the Chairman of Le Look Nigeria Ltd, commended the Council’s timely intervention.
“If not for the Council, we would have abandoned the cargo due to the arbitrary charges. We don’t want to go out of business,” she said.
The resolution was also acknowledged by Fortune Global, which praised the Council’s professionalism.
In another case, the NSC resolved a dispute over the non-shipment of five 40-foot containers of Coca-Cola drinks (24x330ml) exported by Wigmore Trading Ltd to Slovenia, Europe, valued at £16,648. The complaint, lodged against Denca Services Ltd/DGC Express, alleged that despite full payments covering logistics, freight, and other charges in April 2025, the containers remained in Nigeria.
The matter was mediated by Dr. Ambi on behalf of NSC’s Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr Akutah Pius Ukeyima.
Representatives of Wigmore Trading, including its Chairman Mr. Ifeorah Chris, his UK-based partner Mr. Martins, and buyer’s representative Mr. Mohammed Umar, joined the mediation.
Responding virtually, Dr. Onyinye Queen Okpa, CEO of DGC Express, explained that while Denca Services Ltd and DGC Express were linked, the latter was responsible for the disputed transaction despite Denca’s name appearing on the Bill of Lading.
Following deliberations, the dispute was resolved, with Wigmore expressing gratitude to the NSC for ensuring fairness and preventing financial losses.
Industry analysts have hailed these interventions as critical to reducing inefficiencies, arbitrary costs, and disputes within the maritime sector. They argued that the Council’s dispute resolution mechanism not only protects shippers but also strengthens trust among maritime stakeholders.
The Shippers’ Council, which serves as the economic regulator of Nigeria’s port industry, reiterated its commitment to promoting fairness, transparency, and efficiency in port operations.
