The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has disclosed that it successfully recovered and prevented losses amounting to more than N90.6 billion and 1.348 million dollars for Nigerian importers, exporters and the broader economy through its regulatory interventions and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism over a 29-month period. The achievement, which covers the period from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2026, underscores the Council’s growing role in protecting port users from excessive charges while promoting transparency, efficiency and investor confidence within Nigeria’s maritime sector. DDM News gathered that the Council’s interventions have not only reduced the financial burden on businesses but have also strengthened ongoing reforms aimed at making Nigerian ports more competitive and business-friendly.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, made the disclosure during an interactive session with maritime journalists on Saturday, where he presented a comprehensive overview of the Council’s regulatory achievements and institutional reforms over the past two years.
According to Akutah, the Council’s Alternative Dispute Resolution framework has continued to serve as one of its most effective tools for resolving commercial disagreements without resorting to lengthy and expensive litigation. He explained that the mechanism has significantly reduced the cost of doing business while ensuring that Nigerian shippers are protected from unfair commercial practices within the port system.
Providing a breakdown of the recoveries, the NSC boss revealed that the Council prevented businesses from paying N86.06 billion in unjustified demurrage charges, while also securing an additional N4.54 billion and 1.348 million dollars in savings through various regulatory interventions and negotiated settlements.
He disclosed that within the review period, the Council received 558 formal complaints from port users and successfully resolved 295 cases, covering disputes involving container deposits, demurrage fees, detention charges, terminal handling charges, cargo claims, export fraud and other commercial disagreements affecting importers and exporters.
According to Akutah, the Council also secured several important out-of-court settlements involving major shipping and terminal operators, including APM Terminals Nigeria Limited, CMA CGM, and **Maersk Nigeria Limited>. These settlements addressed disputes arising from charges collected above approved regulatory tariffs and resulted in refunds and financial relief for affected shippers.
He noted that resolving these disputes outside the courtroom not only protected businesses from unnecessary financial losses but also reduced legal costs, strengthened stakeholder confidence and reinforced the credibility of the Council’s dispute resolution framework.
“Alternative Dispute Resolution remains one of the Council’s most effective mechanisms for protecting Nigerian shippers and reducing the cost of doing business,” Akutah stated, stressing that quick and fair dispute resolution remains essential for improving Nigeria’s competitiveness as a maritime and trading nation.
Beyond dispute resolution, the Executive Secretary highlighted several major institutional reforms that have positioned the Council for greater regulatory effectiveness.
Among the most significant milestones, he revealed, was the successful passage of the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill by both chambers of the National Assembly. The Council also secured approval for its statutory funding mechanism through the 2025 Appropriation Act, actively participated in the implementation of the National Single Window Project and resolved longstanding issues delaying the rollout of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN).
According to Akutah, these reforms are expected to significantly improve regulatory certainty, reduce the cost of doing business and support the Federal Government’s broader ambition of building a 1 trillion-dollar economy by 2030.
He explained that once the NPERA Bill receives presidential assent, it will establish an independent Port Economic Regulator with expanded powers to oversee tariffs, service standards, commercial conduct and competition across Nigeria’s port industry.
The new regulator, he said, will strengthen transparency, improve accountability and create a more predictable business environment capable of attracting greater private sector investment into the maritime sector.
Akutah also announced that all outstanding issues previously delaying implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note have now been resolved.
According to him, once fully operational, the ICTN will substantially improve cargo visibility throughout the supply chain, strengthen trade intelligence, enhance cargo security and improve compliance with international trade regulations.
The Council, he added, remains committed to promoting fairness, efficiency and transparency throughout Nigeria’s port system through effective economic regulation and robust consumer protection initiatives.
During the reporting period, the NSC also reviewed and approved tariff requests submitted by shipping companies, terminal operators and Inland Dry Ports after conducting detailed regulatory assessments to ensure pricing remained fair and justifiable.
In addition, the Council continued its responsibility of verifying the reasonableness of freight charges, charter party fees, vessel demurrage costs and export freight rates used for foreign exchange transactions, thereby improving pricing transparency while helping to curb capital flight.
To further protect port users, Akutah disclosed that terminal operators were directed to publicly display all approved tariffs, enabling importers and exporters to verify official charges before making payments.
Shipping companies were equally instructed to establish holding bays outside the ports for the return of empty containers, a measure designed to reduce traffic congestion along major port access roads while improving operational efficiency.
The Council also abolished several unauthorised surcharges previously introduced by some shipping companies and developed minimum service standards for both terminal operators and shipping firms to improve customer service delivery across the maritime industry.
Akutah revealed that the Council collaborated extensively with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to assess compliance with Port Concession Agreements and Key Performance Indicators governing terminal operations.
He further disclosed that the Council successfully harmonised bonded terminal invoice charges, reducing the number of charge categories from 18 to six, thereby eliminating unnecessary duplication and making billing procedures more transparent for port users.
The NSC boss said collaboration with other regulatory agencies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigeria Customs Service, has further strengthened compliance, enhanced consumer confidence and reinforced the integrity of Nigeria’s port regulatory framework.
Beyond port regulation, Akutah highlighted the Council’s contribution to labour relations within the maritime industry.
He disclosed that the Council facilitated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria and employers within the shipping industry, resulting in the approval of a new N200,000 minimum wage for junior maritime workers after nearly two decades of negotiations.
He added that discussions aimed at reaching a similar agreement for senior staff are now at an advanced stage.
The Executive Secretary also outlined the Council’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s multimodal transport network through continued development of Inland Dry Ports, Vehicle Transit Areas and Border Information Centres.
According to him, operational Inland Dry Ports located in Kaduna, Kano and Funtua are already improving cargo movement, supporting customs operations and stimulating commercial activities across inland regions.
He also revealed that the Border Information Centre Programme is being expanded nationwide. Following the successful completion of the Idiroko Border Information Centre in Ogun State, construction and development work are progressing on additional centres in Jigawa, Benue, Borno and Kebbi states, while existing facilities along Nigeria’s major border corridors are undergoing upgrades.
Akutah noted that the Council has also continued implementing wide-ranging institutional reforms aimed at transforming itself into a modern, technology-driven and highly efficient regulatory agency capable of responding effectively to the evolving needs of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Looking ahead, he assured stakeholders that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council will continue strengthening port economic regulation, deepening consumer protection, accelerating digital transformation, expanding trade facilitation infrastructure and promoting an integrated multimodal transport system that supports national economic growth.
According to him, the Council is entering a new phase of institutional development where its mandate extends beyond regulating port operations to actively creating a transparent, competitive and investment-friendly maritime environment capable of delivering measurable benefits to businesses, consumers and the Nigerian economy. DDM News understands that with billions of naira already saved through regulatory interventions and far-reaching reforms underway across the port sector, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is increasingly positioning itself as a central institution in improving trade efficiency, reducing logistics costs and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness within the global maritime industry.
