The cost of container haulage from Nigeria’s busiest seaport, Apapa Port, has dropped by over 70 per cent, a development stakeholders say marks a significant improvement in port logistics, efficiency, and transparency.
The revelation came on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, to the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) headquarters in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
According to the Chairman of ANLCA’s Apapa Chapter, Emeka Chukwumalu, the cost of transporting a single container has plummeted from a high of N1.2 million to as low as N350,000. He attributed the remarkable drop to the recent reforms in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Eto Call-up system and increased efforts to curb illegal roadblocks and extortion.
“This cost reduction is not just a financial win for our members—it is a reflection of a system finally working the way it should,” Chukwumalu noted. “The NPA’s commitment to fixing the Eto Call-up system, coupled with the Nigerian Customs’ operational support and training, is already yielding significant results.”
For years, port users and freight forwarders have bemoaned the logistical bottlenecks plaguing the Apapa Port corridor. Chief among these were the chaotic truck entry system, multiple extortion points along port access roads, illegal checkpoints, and collusion among port officials and enforcement personnel.
These irregularities made truck turnaround times unpredictable and prolonged, causing demurrage charges and inflated local transportation rates. At its worst, container haulage costs peaked between N1 million and N1.5 million depending on cargo volume, distance, and time delays.
The breakthrough, according to Chukwumalu, came after Apapa Customs under Dr. Olomu intensified capacity-building for clearing agents and supported the enforcement of operational discipline across the logistics chain.
“The recent training conducted for our members has helped us better navigate the Eto platform and handle documentation issues that used to stall container release. That training alone has saved millions in cumulative haulage costs,” he added.
ANLCA also noted that joint efforts between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos State Government, and security agencies to dismantle illegal checkpoints and regulate truck movements have been instrumental in restoring order on Apapa access roads.
The over 70 per cent reduction in haulage costs is expected to ripple across Nigeria’s entire maritime and logistics sectors, as lower transportation overheads could translate into reduced importation costs, lower inflation on consumer goods, and improved competitiveness for Nigerian shippers.
Stakeholders say this could also encourage a modal shift from informal trucking operators to registered logistics firms, enhancing safety and accountability in the sector.
While stakeholders celebrate the drop in haulage costs, they caution that the progress must be institutionalized to prevent a relapse.
Chukwumalu urged the government to maintain a monitoring system that ensures continuous compliance with road and port access protocols, while also expanding reforms to Tin Can, Onne, and other major ports facing similar congestion challenges.
“There must be political will to sustain these wins. Logistics cost is a major determinant of trade competitiveness. If we fail to maintain this momentum, the cost may spike again,” he warned.
As Nigeria continues its drive to position Lagos as a regional maritime hub, the latest developments at Apapa Port are a welcome sign that ongoing reforms—though gradual—are taking root. The challenge now lies in sustaining the gains and replicating success across the country’s ports and border posts.