Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has accused Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) of allegedly turning haulage trucks into makeshift holding bays by failing to promptly receive empty containers from freight forwarders and importers.
The allegation was contained in a strongly worded letter dated August 6, 2026, signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, National Coordinator, 100% Compliance Team, under the Office of the Founder, NAGAFF, and addressed to MSC Nigeria.
The association said the prevailing empty-container return process was creating avoidable hardship for freight forwarders, importers and haulage operators, with trucks allegedly left stranded for days or weeks while waiting for designated facilities to accept empty containers.
According to NAGAFF, the problem occurs particularly when designated holding bays are unavailable, inaccessible or unable to receive containers, effectively forcing haulage operators to use their trucks as temporary storage facilities.
The development, it said, ties down valuable trucks that could otherwise be deployed for other commercial assignments, resulting in substantial financial losses for transport operators.
NAGAFF further alleged that freight forwarders and importers are simultaneously exposed to mounting detention charges while waiting for shipping lines or their designated facilities to receive the empty containers.
The association warned that the situation was not only hurting businesses but also contributing to congestion around port access roads, as trucks remain immobilised while awaiting clearance to return empty containers.
NAGAFF described as unacceptable the alleged practice of charging customers detention fees for delays caused by the inability of shipping lines to receive their own empty containers.
“It is fundamentally unjust for a shipping line to refuse to receive its empty container while simultaneously charging customers for failing to return that same container. No person or organisation should profit from a delay it deliberately creates,” the association stated.
The freight-forwarding body demanded the immediate suspension of what it described as the unfair and fraudulent imposition of empty-container detention charges in cases where delays are attributable to shipping lines’ failure to provide adequate receiving arrangements.
It also called on shipping lines to provide sufficient, functional and accessible holding bays capable of receiving empty containers promptly and efficiently, in line with applicable regulations and port operating requirements.
Beyond the suspension of the charges, NAGAFF demanded refunds of detention fees allegedly collected from customers who were unable to return empty containers because designated receiving facilities were unavailable or inaccessible.
The association also called for an urgent overhaul of the empty-container return system, arguing that a more efficient process would reduce truck turnaround time, free up haulage capacity, ease congestion on port access roads and improve overall trade facilitation.
According to NAGAFF, the current system places an unnecessary financial burden on operators and undermines efforts to improve the ease of doing business at Nigerian ports.
The association warned that failure to resolve the issue could force it to explore all lawful avenues available to protect the interests of freight forwarders, importers and haulage operators.
“This current system is unsustainable and detrimental to trade facilitation, port efficiency and the ease of doing business in Nigeria. It must end immediately,” NAGAFF said.
The letter was copied to the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and six other relevant stakeholders for their attention and possible intervention.