Lagos Shippers Decry Trade Barriers at Ports, Blame Levies, Checkpoints, Delays

Lagos Shippers Decry Trade Barriers at Ports, Blame Levies, Checkpoints, Delays

Reported by Sele Media Africa|Ihuoma Amarachi

LAGOS, NIGERIA —The Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) has raised alarm over what it described as a hostile trade environment at Lagos ports, blaming multiple levies,illegal checkpoints, arbitrary container stoppages, and delaysas key factors impeding Nigeria’s maritime trade efficiency.Speaking during a recent media briefing in Lagos, SALS President Rev. Jonathan Nicol said the port system is burdened with bureaucratic hurdles that “penalise compliant importers and exporters” while enabling systemic inefficiencies.

Key Concerns Raised by SALS:- Multiple, unjustified levies from various port and government agencies.- Illegal checkpoints and extortions by security operatives on cargo routes.- Arbitrary stoppages of containers, even after full clearance.- Cumbersome documentation processes across terminal operators and agencies.- A system that rewards non-compliance over transparency and order.Rev. Nicol lamented that compliant businesses are “losing competitiveness”due to increased turnaround times and costs. He called on the Federal Government and port regulators to streamline port operations and enforce accountability.

Broader Impact:

According to industry experts, Nigeria loses billions of naira annually due to inefficiencies at its ports, especially Lagos, which handles over 70% of the country’s cargo. The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index and the Ease of Doing Business Report have repeatedly ranked Nigeria poorly in port efficiency and trade facilitation.

What Shippers Want:-

Establishment of a one-stop cargo clearance windowto reduce delays.- Strict action against illegal checkpoints and extortion.- Review of charges and levies by terminal operators and agencies.- Prioritisation of the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a modern alternative.

Citations:

1. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/news/port-inefficiencies-corruption-spike-inflation-logistics-costs-by-40/?utm_source=chatgpt.com2. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/business-services/maritime/how-port-inefficiencies-regulations-fuel-poor-competitiveness/?utm_source=chatgpt.com3. abokiFX: www.abokifx.com/news/43414/details?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About The Author

Ihuoma Amarachi Grace

author

Ihuoma Amarachi Grace is a journalist with Sele Media Africa, committed to telling authentic African stories with depth and creativity. A Christian and a student of English and Literary Studies, she blends her love for writing with the art of spoken word to inspire and inform. Her voice adds a thoughtful and artistic dimension to Sele Media’s mission of amplifying unheard voices across the continent.

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