Council recovers N2.06bn excess charges for Shippers in Q3 2025

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has recorded a significant milestone in its efforts to protect the interests of shippers in the country with the recovery of N2.06bn as excess charges levied on shippers.

The recovery is expected to have a positive impact on the operations of shippers, who can now channel the recovered funds into their businesses, thereby boosting economic activities in the country.

The Council has been at the forefront of efforts to reform the maritime industry, tackling issues such as arbitrary charges, inefficiencies, and operational infractions.

NSC had earlier announced that it successfully saved shippers over N175.8 billion and $30,000 USD in the second quarter of 2025 through its interventions in complaints lodged by stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry.

According to the Council’s Q3 2025 Progress Report, the Complaints Unit received 46 complaints from stakeholders across the maritime supply chain during the period, out of which 26 cases were successfully resolved.

The remaining cases, the Council noted, are undergoing further scrutiny due to incomplete documentation and the need for verification from relevant agencies.

The complaints handled during the quarter covered a wide range of industry challenges, including disputes over container deposit refunds, demurrage and detention charges, arbitrary billing, cargo damage, missing containers, documentation errors, regulatory delays, and non-delivery of cargo.

The report highlighted that the NSC’s interventions were driven by its statutory mandate to ensure fairness in port operations, enhance service delivery, and protect cargo owners and service providers from exploitative practices.

The Council further disclosed that the Complaints Unit continued its monthly submission of service delivery reports to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in line with national efforts to improve efficiency in the maritime sector.

While emphasizing ongoing challenges such as poor documentation by freight forwarders, weak collaboration among operators, and the difficulty of tracing some shipping service users, the NSC reiterated its commitment to strengthening transparency, stakeholder engagement, and operational compliance across ports nationwide.

The Council also conducted advocacy visits during the period under review, including engagements with the Apapa Customs Command and Ocean Network Express (ONE), aimed at fostering better collaboration and resolving industry-wide complaints relating to auctions, documentation, cargo release, and container management.

What it means for shippers

Frontline importer, Alhaji Olukolu Tunde Khallil, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Khallil Associate Nig Ltd, commended the Council’s timely intervention, saying “If not for the Council, most Shippers would have abandoned their cargoes due to the arbitrary charges.”

He also expressed gratitude towards the NSC for its role in resolving disputes and preventing blacklisting.

Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onome Monije, said the Council’s dispute resolution mechanism is a key factor in protecting shippers and strengthening trust among maritime stakeholders.

“The Council’s intervention in a major dispute is noteworthy, with the shippers now expressing relief and gratitude,” she added.

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.