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In a bid to address the growing issue of container congestion at Nigeria’s seaports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has issued a directive to all shipping lines operating in the country to submit an updated list of their holding bays, including their locations and holding capacities.
The directive, announced during a high-level meeting on Wednesday, aims to ease the pressure on port terminals caused by the slow evacuation of empty containers, which has resulted in significant yard congestion. The meeting, which took place at the APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos, was attended by top maritime stakeholders, including representatives from major shipping lines such as Maersk Line, Hapag Lloyd, CMA CGM, Pacific International Lines (PIL), COSCO Shipping, and terminal operators like APMT.
The General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications at NPA, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the shipping lines have been asked to submit comprehensive lists of their designated holding bays to allow the NPA to inspect and assess their operational readiness. The inspections are expected to identify challenges that may be contributing to the delay in the movement of empty containers out of the seaports.
“Shipping lines are expected to provide up-to-date information on their holding bays so that the Authority can carry out proper inspections. This will help us understand the issues hampering smooth container traffic and work together on sustainable solutions,” Onyemekara stated.
According to Onyemekara, one of the major causes of the recent congestion was the simultaneous gate closure imposed by APM Terminals on all shipping lines, which temporarily halted the evacuation of containers. However, the APMT management defended its decision, stating that the terminal had reached full capacity due to a surge in import and export volumes, and that delays in the evacuation of laden and empty containers by shipping lines further compounded the problem.
Following the discussions, several key resolutions were reached. Chief among them was the agreement that APMT must regularly communicate yard stock levels to all shipping lines to facilitate better planning and coordination. It was also resolved that terminal gate closures must now be preceded by a structured notification period—five days’ initial notice, followed by a three-day reminder, and a final notice one day before closure.
Additionally, the NPA directed APMT to begin diverting import containers to off-dock terminals to free up space at the main terminal. The Authority also mandated its port management teams to actively participate in inspecting and evaluating holding bays to ensure they meet operational standards and can efficiently absorb excess containers.
Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, stressed that effective coordination between shipping lines, terminal operators, and the port authority is essential for resolving the persistent challenge of terminal congestion. He emphasized the importance of proactive communication and the strategic use of off-dock and bonded terminals to ease the load on the port infrastructure.
“Without better collaboration, we risk a total breakdown in cargo handling efficiency. All stakeholders must fulfill their responsibilities to ensure container traffic flows smoothly,” Lawal warned.
Industry experts have commended the NPA’s intervention, noting that the proper management of holding bays is critical to improving port operations and reducing turnaround time for ships. They also called for stricter enforcement of regulations requiring shipping lines to maintain functional holding bays and to evacuate empty containers promptly.
The directive comes as part of broader reforms being pursued by the NPA under its port modernization agenda, which includes digitalisation, infrastructure upgrades, and improved stakeholder engagement. Earlier this month, the NPA marked a significant milestone with the berthing of the largest container carrier at a Nigerian port, a move seen as a testament to the growing capacity of the country’s maritime sector.
With Nigeria’s ports handling over 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, logistics experts argue that the current infrastructure must be optimized to accommodate increasing cargo volumes without recurring bottlenecks.
As congestion threatens to delay trade and drive up logistics costs, the NPA’s latest move is expected to enhance efficiency and restore confidence among port users and the wider maritime community.