The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has successfully resolved a complex dispute involving Multifreight Nigeria Ltd (MFN), APM Terminals (APMT), and Pacific International Lines (PIL). The dispute centered on substantial storage charges accrued on a mismanaged Out-of-Gauge (OOG) module (BL No. BNE500289900/Cont No. JTLU0038861) – a high-priority diplomatic Consignment.
Representing the Executive Secretary/CEO, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq., MON, FCILT, Ph.D at the meeting was Dr. Bashir Ambi Mohammed, Head, Complaints Unit. Dr. Ambi assured all parties that the mediation would be governed by principles of equity, professional ethics, and transparency. He then invited the Case Officer, Mrs. Afolabi Funmilola (Principal Operations Officer), to provide a overview of the claim.
Funmilola informed the meeting that the dispute regarding short-landing and tracking discrepancies originated in December 2025. Multifreight Nigeria Ltd alleged that the specific unit had been discharged into the APMT yard. However, APMT’s Terminal Operating System (TOS) and vessel tallies indicated the unit remained Remain On Board (ROB) on the PIL Vessel.
Key Issues Identified :
- Unit Separation: The paired half-height modules were intended to be handled as a single unit. Inadequate coordination resulted in a “split shipment,” where one-half of the cargo was over-carried back to the Port of Loading (POL) in Australia.
- Delayed Transshipment : The over-carried component did not arrive back in Nigeria until February 27, 2026, via the vessel Lestari 0279W, causing an involuntary delay in the final clearance process.
- Accrued Demurrage & Storage : As of March 12, 2026, terminal storage charges reached ₦46,000,000.00.
- Ancillary Costs: The Clearing Agent incurred 30 days of truck detention (Dec 21, 2025 – Jan 20, 2026) due to the terminal’s inability to release the complete, consolidated unit.
- Diplomatic Impact : The delay resulted in a “project default” for the Australian High Commission, carrying significant reputational and diplomatic implications.
While MFN’s Cargo Surveyor claimed the units were sighted during an initial inspection on December 16, 2025, APMT maintained that the unit was never featured on the Discharge List provided by the Shipping Line. APMT clarified that, as a Stevedore and Terminal Operator, they execute discharge operations strictly based on the Stowage Plan and instructions from the Carrier (PIL). The terminal also noted that the cargo arrived as a Single Non-stackable Unit, disputing claims of separation errors at the quay.
In acknowledgment of its operational role in the over-carriage, PIL granted a 100% waiver on all Ocean Freight and associated surcharges for the return leg of the missing module, following the Council’s intervention.
APMT initially offered a 30% discount on the ₦46M storage invoice, citing that they handled the cargo according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and that the initial non-discharge was beyond their control.
Resolutions
Following extensive deliberations and analysis of the available documents, the meeting reached the following resolutions that:
- For Validation of Handling : The Nigerian Shippers’ Council confirms that the diplomatic cargo was properly accounted for within the APMT facility following its eventual discharge from the second vessel.
- For Concession Approval: The NSC formally recognizes the cooperation of APMT in granting an accelerated 70% waiver on accumulated storage charges. This gesture was made at the Council’s instance to mitigate the financial and administrative burden on the diplomatic mission.
- For Mandatory Clearance Deadline : Multifreight Nigeria Ltd is directed to remit the adjusted balance and finalize Cargo Out-gate procedures immediately. Failure to comply will result in the rescission of the waiver and the reinstatement of the original invoice.
- For Institutional Relations : The Council appealed to the Australian High Commission and their logistics providers to maintain confidence in Nigerian port gateways, urging all Stakeholders to prioritize collaborative communication to prevent future operational bottlenecks.
