The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a strict two-week notice to importers and agents responsible for 905 cargoes currently stranded at major Lagos ports, warning that failure to clear these goods will result in their forfeiture to the Federal Government.
According to an official notice released on Monday, the overtime cargoes are domiciled across the Apapa, Tincan Island, and Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited commands.
The NCS defines “overtime cargoes” as consignments that have remained at port facilities beyond their estimated clearance time.
The service emphasized that the two-week grace period is the final window for importers to process and remove their goods before the commencement of disposal proceedings.
“In line with the NCS Act 2023 and following a motion of exparte (Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/823/2025 dated July 31, 2025), importers and agents of the listed overtime goods are hereby notified to clear their items within 14 days.
Uncleared goods will be forfeited to the Federal Government,” the notice stated.
The breakdown of the 905 cargoes indicates that 438 units are 40ft containers, 120 are 20ft containers, 60 used vehicles of varying models and years, 60 groupage containers, and 15 units of scrap metal.
This move follows initiatives by Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who, barely a year and six months ago, inaugurated a Committee on Disposal of Overtime Cargoes to enhance port efficiency and facilitate the faster movement of goods.
The committee was originally set up on November 9, 2023, at the NCS headquarters in Abuja to address persistent port congestion and delays in cargo clearance.
The issuance of the two-week deadline aligns with the provisions of the Customs Act 2023, which empowers the NCS to dispose of containers exceeding their allotted storage time.
Adeniyi stressed that clearing port congestion remains a top priority for the service and the Bola Tinubu administration, promising increased efficiency in trade facilitation and faster cargo movement.
However, industry stakeholders have cited economic challenges as the main drivers of accumulated overtime cargoes.
Mr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at Sea Empowerment and Research Centre, attributed the high volume of unclaimed goods to factors such as high exchange rates, inflation, elevated clearance costs, inadequate loan facilities, and poor purchasing power.
Similarly, Mr. Stanley Ezenga, Secretary Western Zone of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, insisted that systemic inefficiencies, rather than deliberate abandonment, are responsible for the backlog.
“Overtime starts after 28 days. If the system worked efficiently, importers would not leave goods idle at ports.
These delays reflect broader procedural and operational challenges,” Ezenga explained.
The NCS further clarified that the value of cargoes varies significantly. Abdullahi Maiwada, the agency’s spokesperson, noted that even used vehicles of the same make and year could have different valuations depending on their condition and usage.
This underscores the importance of prompt clearance to avoid financial loss or legal complications.
The latest enforcement action by the NCS signals a renewed commitment to streamline port operations, reduce congestion, and enhance trade efficiency.
Analysts believe that the move will encourage timely cargo clearance, promote compliance among importers, and create space for new consignments, ultimately boosting economic activity in Nigeria’s maritime sector.