Cargo dwell time in Nigeria averages 10–18 days, far above Lome and Tema’s 7–10 days and the global best practice of 3–5 days
Abuja — Nigeria’s seaports are falling behind regional rivals Lome and Tema, with longer cargo dwell times, slower vessel turnaround, and higher business costs eroding competitiveness, according to the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC).
In its 2025 Maritime Outlook communiqué, SEREC reported that average vessel turnaround in Nigerian ports remains between five and seven days, compared to just two to three days in Lome and three to four days in Tema.
The research attributed the delays to multiple agency inspections, duplicated documentation, and partial automation, noting that despite improvements in truck turnaround — now 24 to 48 hours in controlled corridors — logistics costs and call‑up charges remain higher than regional averages.
Nigeria’s ports also rank among the most expensive in West Africa, driven by arbitrary charges, high terminal handling fees, and overlapping levies.
These costs, SEREC warned, are accelerating cargo diversion to neighbouring ports, weakening Nigeria’s trans‑shipment potential and regional dominance.
While port security has improved, with zero piracy incidents recorded in 2025, the communiqué stressed that Nigeria must urgently convert policy intentions into measurable outcomes. It called for cost reduction, full automation, FX stability, and integration of intermodal transport by 2026 to restore competitiveness.
SEREC acknowledged structural gains, including the wider deployment of scanners, expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator programme, adoption of geospatial surveillance, and stronger post‑clearance audits.
However, it cautioned that Nigeria still operates over 15 separate trade platforms with limited interoperability, leaving 60 to 70 per cent of clearance processes dependent on human contact — compared to less than 30 per cent in leading regional ports.
The centre concluded that Nigeria’s maritime sector is undergoing recalibration rather than collapse, but warned that early‑stage reforms and macroeconomic pressures continue to affect trade volumes and investor confidence. Sustained modernisation, especially digitalisation, it said, is critical to reclaiming Nigeria’s maritime position and strengthening investor trust.
