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The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has called for immediate regulatory actions against Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) over the worsening empty container return crisis at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports.
The freight forwarding body accused the shipping line of failing to provide adequate holding bays and designated reception points for empty containers, alleging that the situation is undermining ongoing port reforms, disrupting cargo movement and imposing avoidable financial burdens on importers and logistics operators.
National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, said the inability of MSC to establish efficient empty container return systems has become a major operational challenge within the Apapa port corridor, contributing to truck delays, increased dwell time and persistent congestion.
He argued that while the Federal Government is investing in port infrastructure upgrades, road rehabilitation and digital transformation initiatives aimed at improving trade facilitation, operational inefficiencies by some shipping companies continue to frustrate efforts to reduce logistics costs and enhance Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness.
“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,” Ogunojemite said.
APFFLON expressed concern that importers are being compelled to pay huge container detention and demurrage charges despite delays caused by inadequate empty container receiving facilities.
According to the association, such charges place additional pressure on businesses already battling high logistics costs, foreign exchange challenges and other trade-related constraints.
“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,” APFFLON stated.
The association warned that unresolved challenges surrounding empty container management could derail Nigeria’s port reform agenda by undermining efforts to reduce cargo dwell time, improve supply chain efficiency and position the country as a competitive maritime hub in West Africa.
APFFLON urged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch an urgent investigation into the operations of MSC and enforce compliance with industry standards.
The association is demanding: an immediate provision of adequate empty container holding bays and collection centres by MSC; suspension of demurrage and detention charges where delays result from inadequate container reception facilities.
It also called for compensation for importers and freight forwarders who have incurred avoidable losses; and stronger enforcement of service obligations and sanctions against shipping companies that create artificial bottlenecks.
APFFLON maintained that Nigeria’s seaports must function as engines of economic growth rather than environments where inefficiencies increase the cost of doing business.
The association reaffirmed its support for ongoing port reforms, stressing the need for greater accountability, transparency and improved service delivery across the maritime logistics value chain.
