Shippers lament multiple levies, bureaucratic bottlenecks at Lagos ports

The Shippers Association Lagos State chapter ( SALS) has decried the debilitating challenges faced by its members during cargo clearance at the Lagos ports, citing multiple levies, delays, and bureaucratic bottlenecks fuelled by overlapping agencies.

Speaking at the Shippers’ Day Celebration in Lagos on Wednesday, President of SALS, Rev. Nicodemus Odolo lamented that the current operating environment is causing Nigerian shippers to bleed with numbers of members declining daily.

“If you look at the data of shippers we have in Nigeria, it is reducing on a daily basis and the few ones still importing are bleeding as result of these challenges and the bottlenecks, ” he said.

He cited instances where containers, after being released by Customs are stopped outside the port by another customs unit, such as the Federal Operations Unit.

He added that police officers also stop containers on the highway to query Customs duty, a role outside their jurisdiction.

“We have a situation where too many agencies, units are doing the same thing. Imagine police stopping your container on the highway and tell you the duty you pay is not correct.

“Even when customs release, another unit of customs, like the FOU will stop it again outside the port, you cross Lagos State to Ogun state border, the same customs will still hold you, if we want to reform a system, let’s do it holistically. These are some of the challenges we are having,” he said.

The operating environment, he noted makes doing business frustrating, difficult and exposes the system to corruption.

In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr. Pius Akutah noted that multiple, overlapping and often contradictory taxes and levies imposed on shippers and service providers across the logistics chain, distort pricing, create uncertainty and weaken Nigeria’s attractiveness as a trade hub.

He also acknowledged the concerns raised by shippers on import cost and overall business sustainability over the 4 percent tax on FOB value of imported goods.

He said the Council has already initiated engagements with relevant authorities to ensure that such policies, where necessary, are clearly evaluated, harmonised and aligned with National Economic Priorities.

Akutah expressed the Council’s commitment to driving reforms that ensure fairness, transparency and efficiency in the port environment.

“Our position remains that any fiscal measures within the port system must support trade, not stifle it.

“We highly and strongly commend the Lagos State Shippers’ Association for consistently championing the interests of the shipping community and for providing a platform where critical industry issues can be openly addressed. Your advocacy continues to be a driving force for positive change.

“As we celebrate today, we wish to reaffirm our shared commitment to building a port system that is efficient, competitive and supportive of national growth.

“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council will continue to work closely with all stakeholders, government agencies, private operators and shippers to ensure that Nigerian ports operate on global standards of efficiency and economic regulation,” Akutah who was represented by Director, Consumer Affairs Department of the NSC, Ify Okolue said.

In his paper presentation titled National Single Window: Simplifying Trade Process For Nigerian Shippers, Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone ‘A,’ of the Nigeria Customs Service,  Assistant Comptroller Geberal ( ACG) Babandede Mohammed, who representated the Comptroller General disclosed that the Federal Government’s Single window project is targeting an economic growth of $1trillion by the first quarter of 2026.

He stated that the electronic trade platform will integrate various trade and regulatory bodies, leading to more efficient operations, reduced bottlenecks, and enhanced revenue generation for the government.

According to him, agencies directly involved in clearance processes such as standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NASREA) will be created as an administrator.

He also informed that the National Single Window and B’Odogwu are complementary and deeply integrated components of a unified digital trade ecosystem.

“The B’Odogwu system will work hand in hand with the National Single Window. This integration aims to fully align Nigeria’s trade processes with global best practices, eliminate duplication, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance efficiency and transparency across all aspects of trade for the benefit of shippers and traders,” he said.

The event concluded with awards presentation to some agencies and stakeholders including the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi for his efforts in reforming the NCS.