EXPORT SHORTFALLS:: ANLCA Slams MSC Over Alleged Empty Containers Clutter In Lagos

By Roland Ekama

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has accused Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) of failing to provide holding bays for empty containers, a situation it says has littered port corridors and increased transportation costs.

The National Public Secretary of ANLCA, Comrade Emmanuel Onyeme, expressed disappointment over what he described as MSC’s continued cluttering of the port corridors at Apapa and Tin Can Island Port, alleging that the shipping line has also reduced the volume of Nigerian exports it lifts.

According to him, the liner allegedly carries more than 1,000 containers per vessel into the country but takes only about 400 export containers out.

Onyeme said MSC should improve its service delivery and urged regulatory agencies in the port sector to question the deficit of about 600 containers, which he said is unfavorable balance of international trade.

He also called on the shipping line to establish holding bays that would clear the corridors of empty containers around the two Lagos ports.

Onyeme added: “MSC has made history with its 1,000-ship fleet, and that is a good achievement for them, but the truth is that MSC has turned the Nigerian port corridor into a dumping ground.

“A vessel belonging to MSC will enter Nigerian waters with 1,000 containers but will sail out with 400 containers. The problem MSC is causing has led to an increase in shipping charges.

“The regulators are seeing these things, but nobody is questioning the shipping company’s actions,” he said..

Recall that MSC acquired its 1,000th vessel in 2026 and has continued to dominate global shipping, but Nigerian freight forwarders have called on the liner to improve service delivery and provide a standard holding bay for empty containers.