The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has successfully resolved 1,878 trade disputes between shippers and regulated service providers between 2020 and the first quarter of 2024, resulting in savings of over N3.2 billion for the nation’s economy.
Head of the NSC Complaint Unit, Bashir Ambi disclosed this on Monday while speaking on efforts by the Council to facilitate trade and decongest the ports during a visit by the European Union delegation to the Council’s headquarters in Lagos. According to Ambi, the most common complaints associated with shipping companies received during the period include container deposit refunds, demurrage and detention charges and surcharges as well as bill of lading clauses. He said the unit also addressed complaints related to terminal operators including arbitrariness in storage and port charges, rent-seeking practices, delays in stationing containers for examination, damage and pilferage of cargo as well as arbitrary application of badging. Giving a breakdown of the complaints, Ambi said in 2020, the council received and treated 648 merited complaints, saving the government N35.9million. In 2021, he said 518 merited complaints were resolved, resulting in a savings of N2.5 billion. In his words, “I am happy to inform the visiting team that the complaints units of the Nigerian Shippers’ council, in line with the mandate given to the council, and in an effort to see that the Nigerian port is free from congestion, we have handled complaints that has added value to the nation’s economy. “In a quarter, we can receive more than 900 or 1000 complaints. But we do our due diligence, check complaints whether they have merit or they don’t have. So those that have merit in year 2020 were 648 and the money that was saved for Nigerian government was N35,940,582million. “Then in year 2021, the units, after discarding all unmerited complaints, the merited ones were 518 in number and then we were able to save N2,510,450,072billion. “Then coming back to year 2022, we have treated 413 merited complaints. Under the merited complaints, we are able to add value by saving the Nigerian economy, the sum of N203,546,790million. “Going further, in year 2023, the complaint unit attended to 265 merited complaint and all parties that were involved are happy and the unit saved the Nigerian government N362,117,981million. We also had 334,525 dollars in addition that was in foreign currency. “Then this year, from January to March, we have received a series of complaints but the merited ones treated were 34 in number and I’m happy to inform the visiting team that from the first quarter of this year, the unit, aside our fundamental contribution to port decongestion saved the economy, N122,168,617million while in dollar, it has risen to $108,363.2.” Speaking on challenges faced by the unit, Ambi said the prevalence of fictitious addresses provided by importers remains a major challenge. “By the time we intervene in some complaints, we often encounter fictitious addresses even the addresses on the bill of ladings are not correct. On our investigation, when we get there, you will find another thing, ” he said. Another significant challenge, Ambi noted, is the unit’s limited jurisdiction in mediating complaints involving consignees and consignors within the country. stating, “We have cases where consignees are duped overseas and we are unable to intervene, which is a concern for us, ” Despite these challenges, Ambi said the Complaint Unit remains committed to its mandate, working closely with stakeholders to address these issues and enhance the country’s trade facilitation and ease of doing businessMaritime Today.
