The Nigerian Shipper’s Council said that between 2020 and 2022, it has saved a baffling sum of N2.7 billion.
The Punch reported that according to the council in its Complaint Newsletter, a periodic publication of the agency, the fund might have been lost to shipping companies and terminal operators through, among other things, demurrages.
In the report, the NSC stated that a total of 1,727 complaints were received over the time period under examination.
NSC broke down the numbers, stating that the year 2021 had the largest number of shipper complaints, with 666 instances handled and N2.5 billion recovered on behalf of the trading public during the year.
“Similarly, despite the coronavirus pandemic, 648 complaints were recorded in the year 2020, with N57m recovered.”
“A total of 413 cases were reported in 2022, which was a glaring sign of a major decrease in complaints from the trading public. Shippers and freight forwarders were able to recover N204m as a result of these cases.
“Among others, some of them are reimbursements for container deposit or demurrage, while others are exorbitant charges. Some of the damages are also to the cargo,” it said.
According to the port economic regulator, excessive levels of demurrage and detention were still present in the nation’s seaports despite a decline in the volume of goods being handled there.
Additionally, the council recommended importers and exporters to use reputable logistics service providers to handle the clearing and delivery processes of their cargoes so as to ensure that all containers are returned promptly without accruing demurrage or detention charges.
