By Joshua Yousouph
Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) facilitated savings of over N348.8 million for port users while resolving 19 complaints in the first quarter of 2026, according to its sectoral data report exclusively obtained by our correspondent.
The report, sourced exclusively by our correspondent from the Council’s quarterly newsletter covering January to March 2026, highlights the agency’s continued intervention in disputes within the maritime sector, aimed at reducing trade frictions and protecting shippers from unfair practices.
A breakdown of the complaints status shows that out of 32 cases handled within the period, 19 were successfully resolved, 12 are still ongoing, while one case has been closed.
In terms of financial impact, the NSC’s dispute resolution efforts led to a total savings of N348,813,072.06 for stakeholders, particularly importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and shipping agents.
Further analysis of the report indicates that shipping companies and their agents accounted for the highest number of complaints with 22 cases filed against them. Other entities complained against include seaport terminal operators (1), government agencies (3), exporters (1), importers (1), de-consolidators (1), and freight forwarders/clearing agents (3).
The complaints lodged during the period cut across a wide range of operational and financial issues. Prominent among them were container deposit refund disputes, which recorded the highest frequency with five cases, followed by arbitrary charges (4). Other issues included unsettled demurrage (2), missing cargo (2), service failure (2), damaged cargo (2), wrong port of discharge (2), and non-release of auction cargo (2).
Additional complaints involved delays in cargo transfer, breach of trust, invoice cancellation, lack of telex release, delay in releasing export documents, export fraud, waiver-related disputes, demurrage and detention of vessels, breach of contract, and unjustified demurrage charges.
The data also reveals that the majority of complainants were shippers, including importers and exporters, alongside freight forwarders and shipping agents, reflecting the operational challenges faced by key players in Nigeria’s port value chain.
Industry observers note that the Council’s intervention in resolving disputes and securing refunds continues to play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency, boosting stakeholder confidence, and reducing the cost of doing business at the nation’s seaports.
The NSC, as the port economic regulator, noted that it has consistently leveraged its complaints and dispute resolution mechanism to address grievances and ensure fairness in commercial transactions within the maritime industry.
