The Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Nigerian Ports Authority have called for stronger public-private collaboration to tackle chronic inefficiencies at the nation’s ports.
This is as Nigeria seeks to unlock the estimated $3.4 tn market potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Akutah Ukeyima, represented by the agency’s Director of Regulatory Services, Margaret Ogbonna, made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Stakeholders’ Forum, themed Improving Trade Facilitation Through Port Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness.
LCCI President Gabriel Idahosa had warned in his welcome address that the poor state of Nigeria’s ports engenders inefficiencies in cargo handling and high operational costs, draining an estimated N2.5tn annually from the economy.
Idahosa highlighted the country’s poor global competitiveness, noting that inefficiencies at the ports, including congestion, manual procedures, poor hinterland connectivity and high charges, cost the private sector heavily.
The LCCI boss noted that advanced economies such as Singapore, Rotterdam, and Shanghai have proven that investment in digital platforms, automation, and infrastructure yields exponential trade benefits.
However, he commended recent initiatives such as the launch of the National Single Window and the $1.5bn Lekki Deep Sea Port but insisted that more was needed to close the gap.
Ukeyima concurred with Idahosa as he lamented that the ports’ inefficiencies are reflected in their charges, which are higher by 30 to 40 per cent than the West African average, the longer cargo dwell time and the risk of benefiting from the $3.4tn market under the AfCFTA.
“While (Nigeria) handles over 85 per cent of its trade through the ports, cargo dwell times in Nigerian ports remain exceedingly high—averaging 18 to 20 days, which is far beyond the global benchmark of three to five days,” Ukeyima stated. “This inefficiency results in longer lead times, higher costs, and an overall negative impact on trade flows.”
He stressed that port inefficiency is not just about delays in cargo movement but a systemic problem that undermines the entire logistics value chain.
“Achieving port efficiency requires modern infrastructure, digitised processes, and a transparent regulatory environment,” he noted, adding that the Council is developing a Port Pricing Index to monitor tariffs and prevent overcharging.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by the agency’s General Manager of Corporate and Strategic Planning, Seyi Akinyemi, said the NPA was pursuing port automation and infrastructure upgrades to tackle operational bottlenecks.
“The NPA has automated its billing system and Ship Entry Notice process and has partnered with Trucks Transit Parks to schedule over 70,000 port-bound trucks electronically. This has drastically reduced traffic gridlock around Apapa,” Dantsoho asserted.
He revealed that the authority has begun pilot infrastructure modernisation at Lagos and Tin Can Island ports and is working with the International Maritime Organisation to implement a Port Community System.
According to the NPA MD, this system will connect all stakeholders digitally to streamline communication and speed up cargo handling.
Both NSC and NPA stressed that private sector investment remains critical to Nigeria’s port reform agenda.
“Terminal operators must modernise their facilities. Government agencies must harmonise their procedures. The private sector must invest in infrastructure and supply chain innovation,” Ukeyima submitted.
On AfCFTA, he warned that Nigeria risks being sidelined in the continental trade integration if its ports remain uncompetitive. “Efficient, cost-effective ports are essential to position Nigeria as a trade gateway. Without fixing our ports, we will not realise the promised gains of AfCFTA.”
The Shippers’ Council also called on the National Assembly to pass the Port Economic Regulation Bill, which it said will give legal backing to reforms institutionalising fairness, transparency, and efficiency across port operations.
Meanwhile, stakeholders at the forum held the maritime agencies accountable for multiple levies on businesses, especially importers. They warned that regulators should not be focused on generating revenue.
Notably, the chairperson of the LCCI Maritime Group, Funmilayo Folorunso, decried the absence of the Nigeria Customs Service at the stakeholders’ forum, noting that the NCS was too important a stakeholder to miss the deliberations.
