Importers and logistics operators in Nigeria say they are losing billions of naira each month as the blockage of cargo containers at the country’s main seaports disrupts trade flows, deepens congestion and raises costs at one of West Africa’s busiest maritime hubs.
Industry stakeholders accuse officers of the Maritime Police of routinely detaining containers at Lagos ports even after they have been cleared by customs and other regulatory agencies, a practice they say undermines confidence in Nigeria’s port system and adds to the cost of doing business.
The allegations were aired at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in Lagos on Saturday, where freight forwarders, terminal operators, truck owners and importers described what they called a growing pattern of post-clearance interceptions.
Container blockage refers to the detention or restriction of cargo after arrival at port and in some cases after full regulatory clearance preventing delivery to consignees. Stakeholders at the meeting said more than 1,500 containers are allegedly blocked each month, exposing importers to demurrage charges, storage fees and contract defaults.
“Once cargo has passed examination and has been duly cleared by the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, any further interception represents a breakdown of regulatory coordination,” several participants said, warning that the practice damages Nigeria’s reputation among global shipping and trading partners.
More Read
Nigeria relies heavily on its seaports for imports of food, fuel, industrial inputs and consumer goods, with Lagos handling the bulk of the traffic. Chronic congestion, overlapping agency mandates and infrastructure bottlenecks have long plagued the ports, despite repeated reform efforts by successive governments.
Babatunde Keshiro, general manager of Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited, said the issue reflects what he called “parallel authority” within the port environment.
“Any concern about cargo should be raised during examination,” Keshiro told the meeting. “Once the container has been cleared and exited the port, there should be no further sanctions or letters.”
More Read
He cited a 2022 executive directive ordering an end to post-clearance interception of already released containers, arguing that continued blockages suggest weak enforcement of existing policies.
Representatives of freight forwarding associations said the financial burden ultimately falls on importers and consumers. Emeka Chukwumalu, chairman of the Apapa chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, said police units responsible for post-clearance blockages should be made to bear the cost of demurrage when delays occur.
Others accused shipping companies of facilitating the practice by releasing cargo manifests to security agencies. Abayomi Duyile, chairman of the PTML chapter of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, described such actions as “contrary to international shipping standards”.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council said its engagement with security agencies was aimed at protecting cargo interests rather than complicating port operations.
“Our role is not to impose additional costs,” said the council’s executive secretary, Pius Akutah. “We work with the Police to ensure safety, but we also intervene when complaints arise, and many are resolved.”
The council’s head of complaints, Bashir Ambi, urged port users to resist paying unreceipted fees and to submit formal petitions with evidence for investigation.
Nigeria’s Maritime Police Command rejected accusations of wrongdoing, saying container blockages were intelligence-driven and necessary for national security.
Police spokesperson Adebayo Rasheed said officers had recently intercepted arms and illicit drugs concealed in containers that had already been cleared by customs.
“We cannot compromise security in the name of trade facilitation,” Rasheed said, adding that any officer found guilty of extortion should be reported through official channels.
Balancing security concerns with trade efficiency has been a persistent challenge at Nigerian ports. Analysts say unless agency roles are clearly defined and enforced, container blockages will continue to add to costs in Africa’s largest economy, where high logistics expenses already weigh on inflation and competitiveness.
