The Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) has voiced alarm over mounting operational bottlenecks at the Lagos ports, citing multiple levies, illegal checkpoints, arbitrary container stoppages, prolonged delays, excessive bureaucracy, and a system that penalizes even compliant traders as major obstacles to smooth trade.
SALS President, Nicodemus Odolo, raised the concerns on Wednesday during the 2025 Shippers’ Day celebration in Lagos, warning that the deteriorating operational climate is discouraging Nigerians from engaging in import and export activities. He noted that the number of active shippers has continued to decline amid an increasingly hostile business environment.
This year’s event, themed “Challenges Between Revenue Generation and Trade Facilitation,” featured presentations from key regulators, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), and other port stakeholders. Odolo noted that shippers who comply fully with regulations often face longer delays and higher costs, lamenting that his own cargo can remain in the port for up to three months simply because he insists on following due process. He stressed that those who try to do things the right way are made to suffer, while individuals who cut corners move more easily through the system.
He further condemned the growing practice of security operatives intercepting export-bound containers on highways to question Customs duties, describing the act as unlawful and beyond their statutory powers.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, highlighted the problem of multiple and overlapping taxes imposed across the logistics chain. He explained that inconsistent fiscal measures distort market pricing, create uncertainty, and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness as a regional trade hub. He also acknowledged stakeholders’ concerns over the Nigeria Customs Service’s four per cent levy on the Free on Board value of imported goods.
The Executive Secretary assured participants that the NSC has begun consultations with relevant authorities to ensure that any policy adjustments are thoroughly evaluated, harmonized, and aligned with the country’s broader economic priorities.
“Fiscal policies within the port ecosystem should enhance trade, not hinder it,” he said, emphasizing the NSC’s commitment to championing reforms that promote fairness, transparency, and efficiency.
Presenting a paper titled “National Single Window: Simplifying Trade Processes for Nigerian Shippers,” the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Federal Government’s unified digital trade platform is expected to help drive Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by the first quarter of 2026. Represented by Mohammed Babandede, the Zonal Coordinator of Zone A, he explained that the National Single Window will unify all trade and regulatory agencies under a central digital system to streamline operations, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance revenue performance. He added that the National Single Window and the B’Odogwu system are interconnected elements of Nigeria’s expanding digital trade framework.
He explained that both systems will work collaboratively to align Nigeria’s trade processes with global standards, minimize duplication, eliminate delays, and enhance transparency for shippers and traders
