By Queen Tina Okei
A civil society organization, the Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC), has petitioned the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, accusing Mediterranean Shipping Company Nigeria Limited (MSC) and its parent company, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., Geneva, of a series of alleged malpractices that include delays in cargo delivery, arbitrary charges, extortion, and tax evasion.
In the petition dated January 27, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of the committee, the coalition claimed that MSC had engaged in unfair business practices that have negatively impacted Nigerian importers and the country’s economy at large.
According to the petition, Nigerian importers have raised numerous complaints against MSC over excessive charges.
The group referenced a case involving three Nigerians—Ms. Liman Okpeku, Francis Francis, and Maureen Akinbobola—who reported to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that the shipping company was extorting telex charges from them, an amount allegedly collected at both the port of loading and the port of discharge.
The coalition further alleged that MSC routinely delays the release of shipments, forcing importers to pay demurrage fees that they otherwise would not have incurred. Two companies, ADAVURUKY Logistics Links and Jokbemi Nigeria Limited, were said to have paid ₦264,000 and ₦469,000, respectively, due to shipment delays attributed to MSC’s actions.
In addition to these allegations, the Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) accused MSC of failing to refund container deposits paid by importers, despite multiple applications for reimbursement dating back to November 2020.
The whistleblower coalition also pointed to a legal battle involving Interglobal Technologies Limited, a major construction firm, which sued MSC for delaying shipments from China. As part of the case, a Nigerian court ordered the detention of MSC TASMANIA, an MSC vessel, after the company was accused of extortion and the illegal detention of consigned shipments.
The vessel was eventually released only after MSC complied with a court order to deposit a $10 million bond while the case remained in court.
Beyond the legal battles, CWC alleged that MSC engages in coercive practices by detaining shipments to force payments for unrelated transactions.
The coalition argued that such practices violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which prohibits coercion, undue influence, and unfair pricing strategies in commercial transactions.
The petitioners warned that these actions have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy, as they drive up the cost of goods and services, place a financial burden on importers, and contribute to inflationary pressures in the country.
The group further expressed concerns that despite MSC’s dominance in the Nigerian shipping industry, there has been little transparency regarding its tax remittances.
Given that the company is one of the largest shipping operators in Nigeria and has a global turnover exceeding €80 billion, CWC urged the National Assembly to investigate MSC’s earnings and confirm whether it is complying with Nigerian tax laws.
In response to these grievances, the Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition called on the National Assembly to conduct a full investigation into MSC’s activities in Nigeria.
The petitioners requested that a public hearing be held to examine the extent of the alleged malpractices and, where necessary, impose appropriate sanctions.
They also urged the Federal Government to scrutinize the company’s financial records to determine whether it is fulfilling its tax obligations. Copies of the petition were sent to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to ensure that relevant authorities take appropriate action.
As of the time of filing this report, MSC Nigeria Limited has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to obtain a statement from the company were unsuccessful.
The House Committee on Public Petitions is expected to deliberate on the matter in the coming weeks, with industry stakeholders, including freight forwarders, importers, and regulatory agencies, likely to be invited to testify.
