Operational disruptions at Nigeria's ports, caused by street-style protests and unregulated charges, are inflicting massive financial losses on the national economy, a new impact assessment has revealed.
Massive Daily and Yearly Losses Unveiled
According to a financial impact assessment by the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), the physical shutdown and obstruction of port facilities are costing the country an estimated daily loss of between N3 billion and N5 billion. These losses stem from delayed cargo, demurrage, storage charges, and lost productivity.
In a policy memorandum dated January 14, 2026, and addressed to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, SEREC further warned that unregulated shipping and terminal charges, coupled with regulatory ambiguity and disruptive industrial actions, may cost Nigeria between N500 billion and N700 billion yearly in trade inefficiencies.
The Apapa Port Corridor: A Critical Chokepoint
The research body provided a post-protest assessment focusing on recent shutdowns along the Apapa port corridor, which were triggered by increases in charges from shipping lines and terminals. This corridor is critically important, processing over 60 per cent of Nigeria's containerised imports, estimated at 1.5 million to 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.
The report, signed by SEREC's Head of Research, Dr. Eugene Nweke, revealed that importers using this corridor now face an average charge of N150,000 to N250,000 per container. When applied across the total container volume, this translates to an added annual cost burden of N225 billion to N450 billion for the economy.
Inflation and Competitiveness at Stake
SEREC stressed that port and shipping charges significantly affect logistics costs, which now constitute 30 to 40 per cent of the total landing cost for some imports. These additional costs are ultimately passed down the supply chain to manufacturers, SMEs, and consumers.
The report issued a stark warning on inflation: every 10 per cent increase in logistics costs is associated with a 1.5 to 2 per cent rise in consumer prices, particularly for food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial inputs. This dynamic adds approximately 0.7 to 1.2 percentage points to Nigeria's yearly headline inflation.
On regional trade, SEREC cautioned that Nigeria's high port costs could divert 10 to 15 per cent of West African transit cargo to neighbouring countries. However, with effective reforms, Nigeria could recover this cargo and strengthen its position as a regional maritime hub.
Legal Risks and the Path to Reform
The report also highlighted rising legal risks, estimating that potential litigation and liability from unlawful port protests could exceed N100 billion for associations and operators over time. Such actions expose practitioners to massive civil liability claims, further weakening a fragile sector.
SEREC noted that while a suspension directive from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council offered short-term relief, the situation exposes systemic regulatory weaknesses. The centre proposed targeted reforms, including a structured national tariff review framework and mandatory cost-justification disclosures by service providers.
If implemented, these measures could achieve a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in unjustified charges, resulting in yearly savings estimated at N200 billion to N400 billion for the Nigerian economy.
