Exporters increase the alarm over container scarcity at Lagos ports

The Affiliation of West African Exporters and Marine Professionals has warned that the worsening shortage of delivery containers at Lagos ports is threatening the nation’s export sector, which is valued at $44.06bn as of 2025.

That is even because the group lamented the refusal of delivery strains to choose export cargoes, a growth they mentioned is undermining Nigeria’s rising export market.

The President of AWAEMAP, Bunmi Olumekun, acknowledged this in a latest chat with journalists in Lagos. The warning comes as Nigeria’s export sector has recorded vital momentum beneath President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In February, The PidomNigeria reported that Nigeria’s complete exports within the first 9 months of 2025 outpaced the corresponding interval of 2024 by $3.76bn. The figures feed into the bettering native forex amid requires inclusive positive aspects for companies and households.

Information from the Central Bank of Nigeria Quarterly Statistics (December 2025) confirmed that the nation’s complete exports within the first 9 months of 2025 rose to $44.06bn, an enchancment over the $40.29bn recorded within the corresponding interval of 2024.

Nevertheless, Olumekun warned that deliberate actions by international delivery strains at the moment are placing these positive aspects in danger.

“The delivery corporations don’t even deliver vessels to Nigeria to take exports once more. They like to go to Cotonou quite than coming to Nigeria. They wish to guarantee that Nigerian items aren’t sellable exterior Nigeria. You will notice a vessel coming in to discharge cargoes and sail empty to Cotonou to hold exports,” he mentioned.

The AWAEMAP president mentioned export cargoes at the moment are piling up inside terminals throughout the Lagos ports, with no vessels accessible to evacuate them and no containers to load supposed exports.

“Presently, we’re having a problem getting containers to load our export cargoes in a foreign country. Presently, we’ve got extra export than import cargoes mendacity contained in the terminals. Any person advised me that his export containers of perishable gadgets have been on the port since December 2025, and there’s no vessel to evacuate them,” Olumekun acknowledged.

He mentioned the issue is additional compounded by a scarcity of area on the terminals to accommodate export containers, including that the scenario has triggered congestion that plagued Lagos ports earlier than the introduction of the e-call-up system.

The AWAEMAP president additionally raised considerations that the continued battle within the Center East may present international delivery strains with extra justification to keep away from Nigerian ports, additional worsening the scenario.

Regardless of the setbacks, Olumekun acknowledged the progress recorded beneath the present administration. “Below President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian financial system is bettering by way of export, however these foreigners wish to cripple it,” he mentioned.

Olumekun known as on the Federal Authorities to urgently tackle the container shortage.

Additionally talking, an exporter who’s the Managing Director of LWL Idea, Lawal Wasiu, mentioned, “One of many challenges we face on the port proper now’s so many empty containers with no vessel to choose them up. And one large motive for that’s the Iran-US battle, which has affected the routes these ships comply with. For instance, some delivery strains have cancelled any Center East consignment due to the battle.

“So there are such a lot of containers laden with exports, as we converse, which can be nonetheless on the port ready for vessels to come back. Some terminal operators have stopped accepting export containers. Even transporters now don’t wish to drop empty containers on the ports due to the delay. So that is additionally inflicting the shortage of empty containers.”