Frustrations have continued to grow over delayed container deposit refunds with stakeholders calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the system and urging regulatory authorities to intervene and protect Nigerian importers and freight forwarders from what they described as exploitative practices by foreign shipping lines.
The Head of the Complaints Unit at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Bashir Ambi, recently disclosed that the Council recovered over N62.8 million and $15,964, respectively in the first quarter of 2025, following successful interventions on 41 complaints bordering on container deposit refunds, arbitrary charges, demurrage, and related port service issues.
On the other hand, shipping companies lament that some shippers and freight forwarders fail to return empty containers when due, while some do not return them at all and others return them damaged, prompting the shipping firms to withhold the refund.
The Deputy Managing Director of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Nigeria, Jacob Losso, acknowledged that the issue has remained a source of tension in the Nigerian maritime sector for over a decade.
Losso, during a workshop for maritime journalists, said importers who wish to retrieve their container deposits must meet two key conditions, which include returning the container undamaged and within the stipulated free time.
He added that once these are met, refunds are processed promptly and completed within 48 hours.
Losso noted that the problem often arises with one-time or less-experienced clients, who failed to follow the outlined steps.
Meanwhile, the Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has called for a comprehensive regulatory overhaul to tackle the persistent issue of delayed refunds by shipping lines operating in the country.
The Head of SEREC, Eugene Nweke, decried the systemic failure of shipping lines to promptly refund container deposits collected from shippers and freight forwarders, describing the practice as exploitative and detrimental to the operational efficiency of the nation’s maritime sector.
He advocated for the adoption of automated systems, urging regulatory bodies to work closely with shipping lines, freight forwarders, and shippers to design transparent and accountable refund processes.
To enhance transparency, SEREC called for the implementation of monitoring and tracking systems to oversee the movement and return of empty containers to prevent container dumping and abandonment.
SEREC further recommended exploring alternative deposit schemes to ease the financial burden on shippers, which include insurance cover arrangements or collective funds managed by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
