In a strategic move to optimize Port efficiency, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Complaints Unit, paid a high-level advocacy visit to the management of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company Nigeria, Headquarters, Apapa, GRA Lagos, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
The delegation was led on behalf of the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, by the newly appointed Head of the Complaints Unit, Dr. (Mrs.) Juliana Obiageli Saka. The strategic engagement aimed to solidify inter-agency collaboration, streamline maritime dispute resolution mechanisms, and reinforce mutual commitments to seamless trade facilitation across Nigerian gateways.
Hassan Aminu (Assistant Chief Operations Officer, NSC) in his opening remarks stated that the advocacy visit served as an official introduction of Dr. Saka to the top tier management of the global liner agency. Key items on the agenda centered around mitigating operational bottlenecks, establishing fast-track complaint resolution protocols, and exploring avenues for deeper institutional synergy. The overarching goal remains driving cost-effective service delivery and minimizing Cargo dwell time within the Ports.
Dr. Saka commended COSCO Shipping for its longstanding compliance and cooperative relationship with the Council. She reiterated the NSC’s statutory mandate as the economic regulator of Nigerian Ports, charged with protecting the interests of Port Users, mediating commercial shipping disputes, and fostering an environment conducive to international trade.
”The Council is deeply committed to maintaining a transparent, efficient shipping ecosystem. We urge Terminal Operators and Shipping Lines like COSCO to proactively engage our desk whenever operational anomalies arise. Resolving friction at the foundational level prevents costly litigation and mitigates demurrage accumulation for shippers.” Dr. Saka stated.
To achieve friction-free logistics and maritime operations, the Head of the Complaints Unit tabled two key structural proposals:
- Designated Liaison Desks : The NSC requested that COSCO Shipping appoint dedicated contact personnel specifically tasked with handling escalated regulatory inquiries and expediting complaint resolution.
- Operational Study Tours : Dr. Saka proposed structured, periodic exchange visits for NSC Complaints Unit officers to COSCO’s operational hubs. This initiative will provide regulatory officers with deeper insight into the liner’s digital documentation workflows, container tracking protocols, and service delivery systems, effectively narrowing the gap between regulatory oversight and everyday maritime logistics.
Responding on behalf of the Ocean Carrier, Mr. Luo Taihwan, the Managing Director of COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria warmly welcomed the NSC delegation and congratulated Dr. Saka on her new function.
He lauded the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s indispensable role as the vital intermediary bridging the gap between Cargo interests, Shipping Lines, and supply chain stakeholders. The Managing Director emphasized that the Council’s regulatory oversight remains critical to maintaining harmony and commercial decorum within the nation’s maritime cluster.
Concluding the meeting, the COSCO leadership reaffirmed its full commitment to open-door communication and compliance with the NSC’s trade facilitation frameworks. The agency expressed readiness to implement the proposed liaison protocols and host the joint study tours, steering the Nigerian maritime sector toward global best practices.
