The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has raised concerns about the misuse of shipping containers, which it says is causing major financial losses to shipping companies and consignees.
The Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement at the NSC, Sarumi Jelili Adesina, highlighted the issue during the 2024 annual seminar for maritime journalists in Lagos.
Adesina explained that many shipping containers are being converted into shops and even buildings, a practice he said is damaging trust and efficiency in the maritime sector.
“In areas like Amuwo in Lagos, containers have been turned into story buildings. This practice undermines trust and efficiency in the industry, making it difficult for shipping lines to operate effectively,” Adesina said.
He noted that consignees often fail to return containers, and deposits paid by shippers are frequently not refunded. This has discouraged shipping companies from releasing containers to their destinations.
To tackle these issues, Adesina said the NSC is working on an insurance-backed solution to replace the current deposit system. Under the proposed plan, consignees would pay a small service fee to an insurance company instead of large refundable deposits, which typically range between N200,000 and N400,000.
“This system will guarantee that containers are returned within a stipulated time frame, reducing financial burdens on consignees while ensuring shipping companies recover their assets,” Adesina explained.
He assured stakeholders that the NSC is in the process of engaging industry players to refine and finalise the proposal. “Once the concept is adopted, it will benefit all parties involved, reducing financial losses and ensuring the smooth flow of trade,” he added.
The Director of Special Duties at the NSC, Mustapha Zubairu, also voiced concerns about the reluctance of shipping lines to transport containers to Inland Container Depots.
To address this, Zubairu revealed that the NSC has introduced a bill titled “The Carriage of Goods by Land, Sea, and Rail,” which has already been submitted to the National Assembly.
“The bill aims to improve coordination between shipping lines and port operators and enhance the utilisation of dry ports across the country,” Zubairu said.
He noted that once passed, the bill will tackle the hesitation of shipping companies to extend their services to inland destinations, which has left many dry ports underutilised.
