By Joshua Yousouph
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has clarified that ongoing negotiations on duty waivers and concessions for importers affected by cargo delays due to glitches from the migration to the National Single Window (NSW) at the nation’s seaports, will not be implemented as a blanket arrangement, but strictly on a case-by-case basis tied to verified requests from cargo owners.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns from importers over rising demurrage and detention charges linked to disruptions arising from the ongoing migration from legacy systems operated by regulatory agencies such as SON and NAFDAC to the newly introduced National Single Window platform.
Recall that the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), in collaboration with the NSC and the NSW Committee, had commenced negotiations with terminal operators and shipping companies to secure duty waivers and concessions for importers affected by cargo delays at the nation’s seaports.
At a stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos recently, key players in the maritime sector deliberated on the growing burden of demurrage and detention charges incurred by importers whose cargoes have been delayed during the transition phase.
However, speaking in an exclusive interview with Shipping Position Daily last week, the Director, Regulatory Services Department of the NSC, Mrs. Margaret Ogbonna, explained that the negotiation process is being guided by actual applications submitted by affected importers, stressing that stakeholders who attended recent engagements had already indicated plans to consult their principals before filing formal requests.
She noted that the approach is designed to ensure fairness and prevent abuse of the waiver system, warning that a blanket concession could create unintended consequences within the maritime value chain.
“The negotiation is based on actual requests from the owners of the cargo. Most of them, if you were in the meeting, you heard them saying that they will reach out to their principals. So it’s based on requests. When requests come, we use those requests to engage them. It can become a blanket thing, but sometimes there is a mindset that because service providers are involved, they should bear the brunt. They are also in business like every other person.” Ogbonna said.
According to her, the Council prefers to handle individual cases rather than adopt a general waiver framework, arguing that such a system makes it easier to verify claims and ensure timely intervention.
Ogbonna further explained that terminal operators and shipping companies should not be unfairly burdened for disruptions arising from system glitches linked to the ongoing migration to the National Single Window platform.
She maintained that the disruptions were not caused by the service providers, adding that spreading liability across the entire sector without verification could overwhelm operators and distort commercial balance. “That glitch is not occasioned by them either. So it’s not their fault that the glitch is there. Pushing all costs towards them also overwhelms them,” she added.
The NSC director also cautioned against practices where importers delay proper documentation in anticipation of automatic waivers, warning that such behaviour could undermine operational efficiency. According to her, the Council does not encourage any situation that allows parties to abandon due process in expectation of relief measures.
Ogbonna stressed that where legitimate cases of delay are established, the Council will intervene directly with service providers to secure waivers or concessions. “If you have experienced a glitch and you bring it up to the Shippers’ Council, we will take it up, and we are sure they will not say no. It is easier when we come with one person’s case,” she said.
She added that the ongoing digital transition, including the implementation of the National Single Window and related systems, is expected to stabilise over time through continuous use and stakeholder engagement, noting that early-stage challenges are common in major reforms.
