By Adebayo Obajemu
The National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria has petitioned the Nigerian Shippers’ Council over the alleged abandonment of more than 150 export cargoes at Apapa Port, warning that the prolonged delay is inflicting heavy financial losses on exporters and undermining Nigeria’s non-oil export drive.
In a petition dated June 27, 2026, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the association said the consignments have remained stranded at the port for more than five months without being shipped, despite repeated efforts to secure their evacuation.
NSAN President, Dr. Jamilu Mohammed Goma, said the association had earlier written to Maersk Line Nigeria on June 15, demanding the immediate shipment of the affected cargoes. A copy of the complaint was also submitted to the Public Complaints Department of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, but the association claimed the shipping company has yet to take meaningful action.
According to NSAN, a large proportion of the stranded consignments consists of perishable agricultural produce and processed export commodities whose quality and commercial value have deteriorated considerably during the extended delay.
The association warned that exporters are now facing mounting losses arising from product deterioration, cancelled or breached supply contracts, rejection of consignments by overseas buyers and declining foreign exchange earnings. It added that the situation also threatens the credibility of Nigerian exporters in international markets at a time when the country is working to expand non-oil exports.
“We wish to state unequivocally that any complaint, rejection, financial loss or damages arising from the delayed shipment and deterioration of these cargoes should be borne entirely by Maersk Line Nigeria,” the association stated in its petition.
NSAN urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stranded cargoes and compel the shipping company to evacuate the consignments without further delay. It also called for adequate compensation for affected exporters and stronger regulatory measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council and the Association of Nigerian Exporters.
The dispute comes as the Federal Government continues to promote non-oil exports as a key strategy for diversifying the economy and boosting foreign exchange earnings. However, industry stakeholders warn that persistent logistics bottlenecks and shipping delays could erode investor confidence and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global export market.Oil & Gas