The National Shippers’ Association of Nigeria (NSAN) has called on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to intervene in the prolonged delay in the shipment of more than 150 export cargoes at Apapa Port, warning that the situation is causing significant financial losses to exporters and threatening Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
In a petition dated June 27, 2026, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the association said the consignments had remained at the port for over five months without being shipped despite repeated efforts to facilitate their evacuation.
NSAN President, Dr. Jamilu Mohammed Goma, disclosed that the association had earlier written to Maersk Line Nigeria on June 15, requesting the immediate shipment of the affected cargoes. A copy of the complaint was also forwarded to the Public Complaints Department of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
However, the association alleged that no meaningful action had been taken by the shipping company to resolve the issue.
According to NSAN, many of the stranded consignments comprise perishable agricultural products and processed export commodities, whose quality and market value have significantly deteriorated due to the prolonged delay.
The association said the development had exposed exporters to substantial financial losses, including spoilage of goods, cancellation of supply contracts, rejection of consignments by overseas buyers and reduced foreign exchange earnings.
It warned that the situation could also damage the reputation of Nigerian exporters in the international market at a time when the Federal Government is encouraging increased non-oil exports to diversify the economy.
In the petition, the association maintained that Maersk Line Nigeria should bear responsibility for any losses arising from the delayed shipment of the cargoes.
"We wish to state unequivocally that any complaint, rejection, financial loss or damages resulting from the delayed shipment and deterioration of these cargoes should be borne entirely by Maersk Line Nigeria," the petition stated.
NSAN urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to investigate the circumstances surrounding the prolonged delay and compel the shipping company to evacuate the cargoes without further postponement.
The association also called for adequate compensation for affected exporters and stronger regulatory oversight to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Copies of the petition were sent to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Association of Nigerian Exporters.
The petition comes amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen non-oil exports as a key component of its economic diversification strategy. Industry stakeholders, however, have continued to warn that persistent logistics challenges and shipping delays could undermine investor confidence and reduce Nigeria's competitiveness in the global export market.
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