APFFLON Accuses MSC Shipping of Frustrating Port Reforms in Nigeria, Crippling Trade Facilitation, Seeks Sanctions
APFFLON official logo
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has called on the Federal Government and relevant maritime regulatory agencies to immediately investigate and sanction Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) over alleged persistent failure to provide adequate facilities for the return of empty containers, a situation APFFLON says is contributing significantly to congestion within the Apapa Port corridor.
The National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, said the continued refusal or inability of MSC Shipping to make sufficient holding bays and designated collection points available for empty containers has created unnecessary bottlenecks that frustrate cargo movement, delay truck turnaround time and worsen traffic congestion around the nation’s busiest seaport.
According to him, while the Federal Government is investing heavily in road rehabilitation, port digitalisation and reforms aimed at improving efficiency and reducing the cost of doing business, such efforts are being undermined by operational practices that continue to impede the smooth evacuation of cargo.
“It is unacceptable for a shipping company to continue issuing containers to importers without providing an efficient system for receiving the empty containers after use. This operational failure has become a major contributor to congestion at Apapa and is inflicting enormous financial hardship on importers, freight forwarders and transport operators.”
APFFLON expressed concern that many importers are compelled to pay excessive container detention and demurrage charges simply because they cannot return empty containers within the stipulated period due to the lack of available receiving spaces.
“The question is simple: Why should importers be punished financially for a problem created by the shipping company? This amounts to exploitation of Nigerian businesses and runs contrary to the principles of fair trade and ease of doing business being championed by the Federal Government.”
The association warned that unless decisive regulatory action is taken, the country’s port reform programme may fail to achieve its intended objectives of reducing cargo dwell time, lowering logistics costs and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness as a regional maritime hub.
APFFLON therefore called on the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to urgently investigate the situation and ensure compliance with operational standards by all shipping companies.
The association further demanded suspension of demurrage and container detention charges where importers are unable to return empty containers because of inadequate reception facilities, as well as ompensation for importers and freight forwarders who have suffered avoidable financial losses arising from delays in returning empty containers.
APFFLON maintained that Nigeria’s ports must serve as engines of economic growth and not centres where inefficiency is rewarded at the expense of legitimate businesses.
