A civic advocacy group, Citizens WhistleBlowers Coalition (CWC), has petitioned the House of Representatives, accusing global shipping conglomerate, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), of massive financial misconduct, legal subversion, and regulatory violations in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Karl Chinedu, revealed that the petition calls for a legislative probe into what it described as one of the most alarming cases of corporate exploitation in recent memory.
The group alleged that MSC has withheld over ₦3 trillion in unrefunded container deposits collected from Nigerian importers, describing the situation as a calculated economic sabotage that has crippled local businesses and disrupted trade flows.
CWC further claimed that the shipping company has been imposing arbitrary and opaque charges on Nigerian-bound shipments, in clear violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018. According to the coalition, MSC’s pricing practices have destabilized freight operations and placed undue financial burdens on importers across the country.
Of greater concern, the group noted, is the alleged use of anti-suit injunctions secured from foreign courts, particularly in the United Kingdom, by MSC to evade legal proceedings in Nigeria. CWC decried this as a direct affront to Nigeria’s judicial authority, arguing that no company should be allowed to operate within the country’s borders while blatantly undermining its legal framework.
The group cited the experience of Interglobal Technologies Limited, one of several companies reportedly affected by MSC’s practices. According to court filings referenced in the petition, the firm suffered severe operational setbacks after its equipment shipments were allegedly detained by MSC and only released following an extorted payment of ₦49.8 million. The matter led to a Federal High Court order for the arrest of MSC’s vessel, MSC Tasmania, which was later released upon the deposit of a $10 million bond.
Beyond these incidents, the petition raised red flags over MSC’s compliance with Nigerian tax laws, stated that despite its global revenue exceeding €80 billion, the company’s local financial disclosures and tax contributions remain questionable. The coalition is calling for a forensic audit of MSC’s Nigerian operations to determine the scale of economic damage caused by its alleged practices.
The CWC emphasized that even the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy has publicly condemned the outdated container deposit system, urging a transition to modern and transparent alternatives in line with global best practices. Industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), have also voiced strong opposition to MSC’s handling of demurrage charges and refund delays, with some threatening a nationwide boycott.
Despite receiving summons from the House of Representatives to attend a public hearing on the matter, MSC has reportedly failed to appear or issue a formal response. Lawmakers have now rescheduled the session for July 2, warning that a compulsory appearance order will be issued should the company continue to ignore parliamentary oversight.
“The operations of MSC in Nigeria have gone unchecked for far too long,” said Mr. Nafiu Ibrahim, Program Officer for Investigations at CWC. “No foreign corporation should be allowed to enrich itself at the expense of Nigeria’s economy and dignity. This is about justice, national pride, and the protection of Nigerian businesses.”
As lawmakers prepare to debate the petition, the case is shaping up to be a major test of Nigeria’s commitment to defending its economic sovereignty and holding powerful foreign operators accountable.
