IMAN raises alarm as 20-foot container clearance hits N15m in Nigeria

The Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has highlighted a sharp rise in cargo clearance costs at Nigerian ports. According to the association, clearing a 20‑foot container at Apapa Port in Lagos now costs between N14 million and N15 million, whereas the same clearance at Cotonou in the Benin Republic is roughly N7 million to N8 million.

IMAN says this cost gap is a key factor driving many Nigerian importers to route their cargoes through neighboring West African countries such as Benin, Ghana, and Togo, where port fees are lower and operations are viewed as more efficient.

In an interview with Vanguard at Apapa, Lagos, IMAN’s South West Chairman, Joseph Ajoku, condemned the recent tariff hikes imposed by shipping companies and terminal operators. He warned that the increases could fuel inflation, raise consumer prices, and further burden import businesses.

Ajoku added that a 40‑foot container clears for N13 million to N14 million in Benin, but the same container now costs between N19 million and N20 million at Nigerian ports.

IMAN argues that the high operating costs at Nigerian ports erode the country’s competitiveness in the West African sub‑region.

“Our findings show that smaller West African countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso are achieving significant gains in operational efficiency and service delivery,” the association stated. “For example, at Benin ports, a 20‑foot container clears for about N7 million to N8 million, compared with N14 million to N15 million at Apapa. A 40‑foot container costs roughly N13 million to N14 million in Benin, versus N19 million to N20 million at Apapa.”

Aliyu Yar’adua, IMAN’s National General Secretary, emphasized the importance of importers to Nigeria’s economy, noting that they are a major source of government revenue after oil. “After oil, it is what importers bring into the economy that keeps the country moving. Importers are the lifeline of government revenue,” he said.

Yar’adua also urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to halt further tariff increases and to engage importers in meaningful consultations before approving any changes to shipping and terminal charges.