Nigeria is losing an estimated ₦20 billion every day due to the collapse and severe inefficiency of its port infrastructure, according to maritime expert and former Nigerian Bar Association President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).
Agbakoba issued the warning during a maritime industry review, describing the country’s ports as “overwhelmed, outdated and structurally broken,” resulting in unprecedented economic losses that are stifling trade and inflating the cost of doing business.
“Nigeria’s ports are collapsing — the losses are massive”
Agbakoba said Nigeria’s ports should operate as high-revenue national assets but have instead deteriorated due to years of neglect, mismanagement and policy failures.
“We are losing more than ₦20bn every day because the ports have collapsed.
Nothing is moving efficiently. The bottlenecks are choking imports, crippling exports and suffocating revenue,”
he warned.
He noted that the global industry benchmarks Nigeria against medium-tier maritime nations, yet the country performs far below expectations despite its massive trade volumes.
Congestion, obsolete systems and endless delays
The daily losses stem from:
- excessive vessel waiting times
- gridlock at Apapa and Tin Can corridors
- outdated manual cargo clearing processes
- limited capacity at berth
- high storage and demurrage costs
- poor intermodal connections
- decaying access roads
Importers say cargoes sometimes remain stuck for weeks, forcing businesses to bear costs passed on to consumers.
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Trade Competitiveness at Risk
Nigeria’s inability to modernise its ports undermines:
- export competitiveness
- raw material supply chains
- manufacturing timelines
- agricultural exports from hinterland states
- non-oil revenue targets
Agbakoba said import-export operators were increasingly diverting cargoes to neighbouring nations — especially Cotonou and Lome — where ports are faster and cheaper.
Dangote as an Example of Lost Value
Agbakoba referenced billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, noting that the businessman publicly lamented the global difficulties caused by port inefficiency on his industries and the massive commercial losses it creates.
Dangote previously described the Apapa–Oshodi port corridor as “the biggest business destruction point in Nigeria.”
Government Reforms Under Pressure
The Federal Government’s ongoing port digitalisation initiatives — including the National Single Window, e-customs platform and deep seaport expansion — have been criticised for slow uptake and bureaucratic hurdles.
Maritime unions and freight forwarders say reforms must be accelerated to avoid total operational collapse.
Agbakoba urged:
- full automation of cargo processes
- rehabilitation of port access roads
- decentralisation of port operations
- increased rail linkage to dry ports
- stricter performance KPIs for port operators
Economic Impact: Inflation and Lost Jobs
The port crisis generates ripple effects across:
- national inflation
- petroleum product distribution
- manufacturing input costs
- employment in maritime and logistics sectors
- government’s non-oil revenue objectives
Economists warn that a prolonged port collapse could worsen Nigeria’s already fragile economic recovery.
