Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has threatened to stage a nationwide protest over the alleged manipulation of ship manifests by two of the world's largest shipping companies—Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Hapag-Lloyd—warning that the practice is creating systemic corruption, blocking legitimate cargo clearance, and inflicting severe economic losses on importers and freight forwarders across Nigeria. The agents have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to investigate the shipping firms and impose sanctions, failing which they say they will publicly expose the alleged corruption and take to the streets.
Former ANLCA Vice President and acting National President, Dr Kayode Farinto, who has emerged as the leading voice in the complaint, accused MSC and Hapag-Lloyd of routinely submitting electronic manifests to the Nigeria Customs Service that falsely declare that all containers aboard a vessel are destined for Nigeria. According to Farinto, the shipping companies often discharge only a portion of the declared cargo at Nigerian ports, while the remaining containers are left at transshipment hubs such as Cotonou in Benin Republic or Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire for onward shipment. The problem, he explained, emerges when those outstanding containers eventually arrive in Nigeria on another vessel, but without the required amendments to the electronic manifest. Because the Nigeria Customs Service has already processed the original manifest, the late-arriving cargo is flagged as overdue or abandoned, and the bills of lading become blocked.
The blockage makes it impossible for importers or their agents to process declarations electronically, forcing them to seek manual intervention. "At that point, physical intervention becomes necessary, and that is where corruption begins to thrive," Farinto warned. He lamented that the process unnecessarily increases human contact in cargo clearance, creating fertile ground for extortion and corrupt practices. "I am tired of receiving complaints from our members about the level of extortion associated with this practice," he said. He urged the NCS to investigate vessels operated by MSC and Hapag-Lloyd, arguing that the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 empowers the Service to sanction shipping firms that submit inaccurate or misleading manifests.
The maritime stakeholder challenged the Nigeria Customs Service to carry out a detailed investigation, comparing the number of containers declared in electronic manifests with the actual number discharged from each vessel. "If a shipping company tells Customs it is bringing 300 containers, Customs should verify whether all 300 containers actually arrived. If they did not, there should be consequences," he said. He argued that submitting a manifest for cargo that is not physically onboard a vessel constitutes a breach of Customs regulations and should attract appropriate penalties. "The law is very clear. Once you submit an electronic manifest to the Nigeria Customs Service, you have a responsibility to ensure that every cargo listed on that manifest is onboard that vessel. If that is not the case, there should be sanctions," he stated.
Farinto also issued a stark warning: "If this issue is not addressed within two weeks, Nigerians will begin to see the other side of the story". While he withheld further details for now, he said he would disclose additional information regarding the alleged extortion and operational challenges faced by licensed customs agents if the Customs Service fails to take decisive action within the two-week deadline. Farinto, who is also the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment Limited, urged the NCS to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the operations of the affected shipping companies and enforce the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Act, 2023 to safeguard legitimate trade, curb corruption, and protect importers from unnecessary hardship.
When contacted for comment, MSC official Dimeji Gbadebo told Vanguard he was unaware of the specific allegations and requested details, assuring that the company would issue an official response after reviewing the matter. Efforts to obtain comments from Hapag-Lloyd were unsuccessful, with a company official stating he was not authorised to comment and referring enquiries to the company's Managing Director. As the two-week deadline counts down, the maritime industry now awaits the response of the Nigeria Customs Service and the shipping companies. For importers and freight forwarders who have long borne the consequences of the alleged practice, the protest threat represents a desperate call for accountability in a sector where transparency has become a casualty of systemic failure.
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