Tuesday, 14 January 2026, The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), intervened in a high-stakes maritime dispute involving Well-Worldwide Energy Logistics Ltd (WWE), Alraine Shipping Agencies (Nigeria) Ltd, and Multitrade Spain S.L. (MTSP).
The tripartite resolution meeting, held at the AGL Group Headquarters in Apapa, focused on allegations of operational negligence, berth obstruction, and the disputed accrual of Vessel detention and terminal storage charges, a bottleneck currently stalling critical energy infrastructure destined for Seplat Energy Ltd.
Representing the Executive Secretary/CEO, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq., MON., PhD, the Head, Complaints Unit, Dr. Bashir Ambi Mohammed, emphasized the Council’s statutory authority under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to handle commercial and maritime disputes. Dr. Ambi, clarified that while the Council is not a Court of law, its resolutions are legally binding, and non-compliance would trigger strict regulatory enforcement. He underscored that the Council’s primary objective is to maintain fair play and prevent the “bleeding” of the national economy through avoidable commercial losses.
The Case Handler, Mr. Mubarak Abubakar, outlined the petition filed by Well-Worldwide Energy Logistics (WWE). The grievance centers on five (5) units of LPG/Propane tanks transported via the Vessel MV ANUNNAKI.
Shipment Details
- Charter Party B/L
- Vessel: MV ANUNNAKI
- POL: Constanta Romania
- POD: Lagos, Nigeria
- 3 Packages S.T.C. Auxiliary Plant/Equipment For Gas Recovery & Heat Exchange.
- Total Net Weight: 198,540KG
- Volume: 1313.40cbm
- Total Gross Weight: 198,600KG
- Form M: MF 20250028829
- SHIPPER
Comes S.A. Neat County Romania - Consignee
Seplat West Limited, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, Nigeria. - Notify Party
Well-Worldwide Energy Logistics Ltd. Port Harcourt
Mr. Patrick Igbokwe, Managing Director of WWE, informed the meeting that the Cargo shipped under CFR (Cost and Freight) Incoterms-faced a berthing delay not caused by general Port congestion, but by the specific obstruction of the allocated berth at Eko Support Services Terminal.
WWE alleged that MV WAN MING 1, another Vessel under the agency of Alraine Shipping, occupied the berth despite WWE having paid a facilitation fee of USD 5,000. This delay triggered:
- Disputed Vessel detention charges totaling USD 236,979.17.
- Accumulated terminal storage fees exceeding ₦66 million.
- The withholding of original Bills of Lading, preventing the release of Cargo valued at approximately ₦218.9 million.
Responding Alraine Shipping Agencies, represented by Mr. Patrick Odume, the Shipping Manager countered this submission citing the notorious rainy-season congestion at the Lagos Port Complex. They maintained that berthing priorities are governed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Harbour Master and denied any deliberate concealment of operational facts. They further clarified that detention charges were a matter of the Charter Party agreement between the Carrier and the Vessel Owners, to which the local agent was not a direct party.
Upon reviewing the documentary evidences presented, the meeting observed that the Vessel obstructing the berth was indeed under the same agency (Alraine Shipping Agencies) and that a Court Order regarding the Vessel did not preclude it from completing commercial operations to vacate the berth.
To prevent further financial liabilities, the NSC issued the following Interim Resolutions that:
- The Council affirmed the existence of a valid commercial contract between WWE and Alraine Shipping Agencies.
- The Council ruled that the selection of Eko Support Services Terminal was a decision made solely by the Carrier’s interests in Nigeria.
- The Council officially appealed for a moratorium on storage charges effective from 11 December 2025 (Being the date, the formal complaint was lodged) to halt the accrual of further debt.
- WWE was directed to serve a formal written demand to Alraine Shipping Agencies before the close of business on Monday 19th January, 2026.
- All parties are mandated to maintain the status quo and adhere to these directives pending a follow-up meeting to be scheduled next week.
The intervention is a critical step in safeguarding Nigeria’s energy sector supply chain and ensuring that port inefficiencies do not derail strategic national projects.
