Shippers’ Council resolves prolonged delay in shipment of export containers dispute between NISAN, Maersk Line
Shippers' Council resolves prolonged delay in shipment of export containers dispute between NISAN, Maersk Line
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on Friday, 4th July, 2026, resolved a dispute between National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria (NSAN) and Maersk Line Nigeria over the prolonged delay in the shipment of export containers at Apapa Port.
In her intervention, the Head, Complaints Unit, Dr. Obiageli Juliana Saka, representing the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, invited both parties to a round table
Full text of the release, “Presenting the Complaint, Hassan Aminu, Assistant Chief Operations Officer, informed the meeting that NSC had received a petition from the National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria (NSAN) on behalf of some of its members concerning the alleged abandonment of Fourteen (14) Export Containers at Apapa Port for more than five months without shipment or satisfactory resolution.The affected exporters are:
JM Goma International Ltd.
– Spice Commerce Ltd.
– El-Tayeb Trading Company Ltd.
– Rumbu Industries Ltd.
“According to the complaint, several of the Containers hold perishable agricultural and processed export commodities whose prolonged storage has resulted in:
” Significant deterioration in product quality and export value;
– Breach of contractual obligations with overseas buyers;
– Increased risk of Cargo rejection at destination due to quality degradation; and
– Substantial financial losses, including reduced export earnings and foreign exchange receipts.
“Aminu stated that the affected Cargoes are covered under Bills of Lading Nos. 269043419 and 269202570. He explained that the prolonged delay had exposed the perishable Cargoes to unfavourable storage conditions, significantly affecting product integrity and placing the exporters at risk of defaulting on contractual commitments with international buyers.
“Dr. Saka thereafter invited the Claimants to elaborate on their complaint.
“Speaking on behalf of the exporters, Mr. Olushola Joseph and Dr. Jamilu M. Goma, President of the National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria and Founder of JM Goma International Ltd., informed the meeting that they had repeatedly engaged Maersk officials, including Marcus Lawrence and Mary Effiong, in an effort to resolve the matter. Dr. Goma stated that the exporters sought clarification on why the Containers had remained at the terminal for between five and six months without shipment. According to him, Ms. Effiong initially promised to provide feedback within 48 working days but no response was received.
“The matter was subsequently referred to another official, Funsho, but the situation remained unresolved, prompting the Association to seek the intervention of the Council.
“Representing Maersk Line Nigeria, Marcus Lawrence explained that the company had experienced severe operational disruptions arising from congestion at Apapa Port. He noted that several vessels had encountered waiting times of between two and three weeks before berthing, resulting in schedule disruptions, extended vessel turnaround times and significant transshipment challenges.
“He stated that the congestion affected services on the Africa, Europe and North America trade lanes, which included the Cargoes belonging to JM Goma International Ltd. As a contingency measure, Maersk redirected certain export services to Tin Can Port, where vessel availability was relatively better.
“Marcus explained that a Customer advisory dated 24 April 2026 informed exporters of the operational changes. A virtual meeting was also held with Shippers and Freight Forwarders during which Maersk explained the operational constraints, the impact of Port congestion and the temporary routing arrangements. According to him, Maersk implemented a yard clean-up exercise and instructed Customers to complete Customs clearance formalities before delivering export containers to the terminal.
“He said exporters with completed documentation were allocated to designated vessels, although one scheduled vessel was later substituted. He added that Maersk had been able to clear substantial volumes of Export Cargo destined for Africa, Europe and North America through Tin Can Port. However, vessel availability for these trade lanes at Apapa remained limited.
“Marcus further stated that some Exporters delivered Containers after vessel cut-off times, while others altered their intended destinations after booking, resulting in mismatches between Cargo routing and available vessel services. He explained that shipping operations involve complex regional networks in which vessels serve multiple West African Ports rather than Nigeria alone, requiring coordinated allocation of Cargo space across several destinations.
“Further clarifying Maersk’s position, Mary Effiong stated that when the company issued its advisory directing North America-Bound Export Cargo to Tin Can Port, approximately 400 Export Containers intended for that trade were already positioned at APM Terminals, Apapa. She explained that despite the advisory instructing Customers not to deliver additional Containers to Apapa, more than 1,500 Export Containers were subsequently gated into the terminal before the arrival of the designated vessel, as a result, the vessel could not accommodate all export units awaiting shipment, although Maersk succeeded in loading between 80 and 90 per cent of the ready Cargo.
“Seeking clarification, Dr. Saka observed that Maersk’s advisory was issued on 24 April 2026, whereas the Containers identified by the Council had been delivered into the terminal as early as 13 April, 2026. She asked whether the affected Containers formed part of those impacted by the congestion, stressing that in international shipping, delays have significant commercial implications because Exporters remain bound by contractual delivery obligations.
“Responding, Ms. Effiong confirmed that five of the fourteen Containers had completed export processing and were ready for loading but could not be shipped due to yard congestion, while the remaining nine Containers had not completed the required export readiness procedures at the relevant time.
“Following extensive deliberations, the meeting reached the following resolutions that:
1. The Council affirmed that a valid commercial transaction involving fourteen (14) Export Containers existed between members of the National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria and Maersk Nigeria Ltd.
2. Maersk attributed the delay to severe congestion at Apapa Port, stating that approximately 1,000 Export Containers remain awaiting shipment. The company further indicated that it could not provide a definite timeline for the availability of a vessel to evacuate export Cargo from Apapa Port.
3. Maersk was directed to revert to both the Council and the National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria with the outcome of its engagement with its Head Office regarding measures to deploy vessels for the evacuation of the affected Export Containers.
4. The Council advised Maersk that it may be held liable for compensation arising from any deterioration, loss in Cargo value, rejection by Overseas Consignees or additional costs incurred as a consequence of the prolonged delay.
5. The fourteen (14) Containers forming the subject of the dispute shall be accorded priority loading immediately a suitable vessel becomes available for export operations at Apapa Port.
6. The Council advised Maersk to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of its Customer communication and operational advisories to prevent similar occurrences.
7. Both parties were encouraged to maintain constructive engagement and strengthen their commercial relationship in the interest of promoting efficient international trade and Nigeria’s export competitiveness.
