Formed in 1979, NAL began business almost immediately in 1980 at Warehouse Road, Apapa, a walking distance from the busy Apapa Port Complex, the hub of maritime trade in Nigeria. This was in the days when Nigeria's bilateral trade agreement had opened the sea routes to economies like Brazil, the South American markets, Asia and European countries. Having won patronage from Nigeria's National Supply Company (NNSC) to bring in government goods from abroad, NAL was chartering not less than two ships every month to haul bulk cargoes like sugar, rice and cement. It was not only for NNSC that NAL had business as DICON Salt (Nigeria) also relied on it to receive her consignments of bulk salt. Business was good.

In the course of the venture, NAL was also involved in the lifting of containers from the USA to Nigerian seaports. In line with the convention of shipping line conferences encouraged by the UNCTAD in those days, NAL was a prominent member of the Mediterranean Line MEWAC and Brazil-Nigeria Freight Conference.

With the coming on stream of the National Maritime Authority (NMA) in 1987/88, the profile of NAL increased as NMA emboldened indigenous operators to claim their share of internationally traded cargo involving Nigeria. The share was 40:40:20 and NAL participated actively in this trade until it was stopped in April 2000. But while it lasted, it afforded the young Nigerian carrier ample opportunity to develop good experience in international shipping: NAL maintained offices in Brazil and Italy.

NAL began with a core indigenous staff of about 12 though today the staff strength in the entire NAL-Comet group is closer to 250. From the Lagos office, it has opened branch offices and other sister companies as time and business dictated. Some of these branches operate in Port Harcourt, Onne and Warri seaports.

Comet are now one of the leading independent agents operating in Nigeria and have a vast experience in handling all types of vessels and cargo. In 2007 Comet handled 139 vessels at the ports of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri.

NAL as a long established shipping line is ever ready for active roles in improved participation of Nigerian indigenous sea traders in international cargo carriage. It is an active financial member of the Nigerian Shipping Companies Association, (NSCA), a shipping lobby group projecting the interests of local shipping lines. In the late 1990s, the NSCA formed consortia of shipping lines for the express purpose of integrating faster into the lifting of Nigeria's crude oil and the movement of refined products around Nigerian waters. NAL formed one such group with Bulkship Nigeria Ltd and NigerBras Nigeria Ltd. NAL is also recognized by the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (formerly National Maritime Authority), as an indigenous carrier while NPA certifies NAL as a shipping line.

Comet Shipping, on the other hand, is widely reputed in Nigeria for shipping agency business. It maintains very good relations with all the government regulatory agencies.