Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has recovered over ₦62.8 million and $15,964, respectively in the first quarter of 2025. The recoveries follow successful interventions on 41 complaints bordering on container deposit refunds, arbitrary charges, demurrage, and related port service issues.
This was exclusively disclosed to our correspondent last week by the Council’s Head of Complaints Unit, Dr. Bashir Ambi, who confirmed that the recoveries were made through the Council’s dispute resolution mechanisms between January and March 2025.
According to Dr. Ambi, the Council received and handled a total of 41 complaints within the period under review. These complaints were lodged by shippers, freight forwarders and other stakeholders against various service providers, including shipping companies, de-consolidators, terminal operators, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), and even government agencies.
He added that, among the most frequent complaints recorded were cases of arbitrary charges and issues relating to container deposit refunds, each of which appeared six times in the records. Complaints related to demurrage and storage waiver issues were documented five times, along with another five instances concerning damage to cargo.
Refunds on excess charges were reported three times, while service failures occurred twice. Other issues, though less common, included invoice discrepancies, return of containers, wrong port of discharge, breach of contract, amendments to export manifests, and overstayed cargo.
The majority of the complaints—28 out of the 41 were lodged against shipping companies and their agents, making them the most complained-about group during the period under review. Seven complaints were directed at De-consolidators, while Inland Container Depots and government agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Maritime Police accounted for two complaints each. Seaport terminal operators and freight forwarders each had one complaint filed against them.
Ambi revealed that out of the 41 complaints received, 22 were resolved, 14 are still being processed, four were placed on “Keep in View” (KIV) status, indicating that further action may be taken as needed and one was closed.
The Head of Complaints Unit reiterated that the Council’s interventions are in line with its mandate to protect the interests of shippers and promote fairness and efficiency in the maritime transport chain.
While warning port users and customers to be honest in their declarations and business dealings, he also encouraged all port users to continue to bring their grievances to the Council for redress, assuring that the Complaints Unit will remain responsive and proactive in tackling issues that hinder smooth cargo clearance and increase transaction costs at the ports.
“We encourage all port users to continue bringing their grievances to the Council for prompt redress, as we remain committed to being responsive and proactive in addressing issues that hinder smooth cargo clearance and inflate transaction costs at our ports.
“However, while we carry out our regulatory and mediatory responsibilities, we urge shippers, freight forwarders, and all stakeholders to be honest and transparent in their declarations and dealings, as integrity is key to ensuring a fair and efficient port system for everyone.”Dr Ambi noted.
