High charges, delays hurt Nigeria’s maritime hub goal, Alabi says

Summary

Boma Alabi says port congestion, delays and related charges are raising shipping costs and weakening Nigeria’s bid to become a regional maritime hub.

Highlights

• Alabi blamed congestion and logistics inefficiencies at Lagos ports, rather than quay capacity, for long cargo dwell times.
• He said average cargo dwell time in Apapa and Tincan is 18–21 days, compared with 5–7 days in Ghana and four days in Cotonou.
• He said the delays add storage, demurrage, trucking and financing costs, pushing final landed costs higher for imported goods.
• Alabi said shipping lines operating in Nigeria earn significant revenue from Nigeria-linked trade, while what stays locally is mainly taxes and port dues.
• He said Nigerian-owned shipping companies face capital, forex and policy constraints that limit their ability to compete with global carriers.