WorldStage– Nigerian exporters have warned that a severe shortage of shipping containers at Lagos ports is threatening the country’s $44.06 billion export sector as of March 2026.
The Association of West African Exporters and Marine Professionals (AWAEMAP) issued the warning, saying the crisis is being driven by foreign shipping lines bypassing Nigerian ports or sailing away with empty containers rather than picking up export cargoes.
President Tinubu recently secured a £746 million port infrastructure deal with the United Kingdom to modernize facilities at Apapa and Tin Can ports to address long-term inefficiencies.
On March 20, 2026, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) directed shipping lines to suspend recent tariff hikes following concerns over their impact on the logistics chain.
Shipping companies are reportedly preferring to berth at Cotonou (Benin Republic) over Lagos, leading to a lack of available vessels to evacuate Nigerian exports.
Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have disrupted shipping routes, causing some lines to cancel Middle East consignments or avoid certain routes entirely.
Persistent congestion at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports has led to “one-way shipping traffic,” where vessels discharge imports and immediately depart empty to save time, leaving export goods stranded.
Given the severity of the situation, indigenous barge operators have raised alarms over restricted berthing space at Apapa Port, which has hampered the movement of containers to and from terminals.
Exporters report that some containers of perishable items have been stuck at the port since December 2025 due to the lack of vessels.
Freight rates from Europe and Asia have skyrocketed, with some 40-foot container costs rising from $3,000 to as much as $13,000 due to the scarcity.
The crisis risks stalling the 21% increase in non-oil exports recorded in 2025.
