The Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) has successfully recovered N348.8 million through its dispute resolution interventions involving importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and shipping agents during the first quarter of 2026.
Dispute Resolution Statistics
According to the Council's sectoral data published in its quarterly newsletter covering January to March, the complaints status revealed that out of 32 cases handled in the period under review, 19 were successfully resolved, 12 are still ongoing, and one case has been closed.
Complaint Analysis
The complaint analysis showed that shipping companies and their agents accounted for the highest number of complaints, with 22 cases filed against them. This was followed by freight forwarders and clearing agents, as well as government agencies, with three cases each. Other entities that lodged complaints included seaport terminal operators, exporters, importers, and deconsolidators, each with one case.
Types of Complaints
The report noted that complaints lodged during the period covered a wide range of operational and financial issues. The most common were container deposit refund disputes, with five cases, followed by arbitrary charges (four cases) and unsettled demurrage (two cases). Other issues included missing cargo, service failure, damaged cargo, wrong port of discharge, and non-release of auction cargo, each with two cases. Additional complaints involved delays in cargo transfer, breach of trust, cancellation of invoices, lack of telex release, delays in releasing export documents, export fraud, waiver-related disputes, demurrage and detention of vessels, breach of contract, and unjustified demurrage charges.
Role of the Council
The report also revealed that the majority of complainants were shippers, including importers and exporters, as well as freight forwarders and shipping agents. The report highlighted the agency's continued intervention in maritime-sector disputes, aimed at reducing trade frictions and protecting shippers from unfair practices. The Council stated that as the port economic regulator, it has consistently leveraged its complaints and dispute resolution mechanism to address grievances and ensure fairness in commercial transactions within the maritime industry.
