The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is facing mounting pressure from licensed customs agents and freight forwarders, who are demanding an extension of the two-week ultimatum issued to importers to clear 905 overtime cargoes lying in Lagos terminals.
Customs agents stakeholders warn that the short timeline could result in significant financial losses for importers and worsen congestion at the nation’s ports.
In August, the NCS granted importers and their agents a 14-day grace period to take delivery of their cargoes or risk forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The affected consignments, described as “overtime cargoes,” are containers and shipments that have remained uncleared beyond the legally allowed period at terminals across Lagos.
Customs authorities warned that at the expiration of the deadline, they would commence legal procedures to dispose of the items through public auction, in line with established regulations.
Speaking on Sunday, a chieftain of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Abayomi Duyile, said the timeframe was inadequate.
“I think that the time should be extended. It should be extended so that these importers will not lose their investment,” Duyile said.
He further suggested that the government engage shipping companies to subsidize demurrage costs, which have piled up due to the prolonged stay of cargoes at ports.
Echoing similar concerns, the National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Mr. Taiwo Fatobilola, pointed to systemic challenges within the ports.
According to him, poor network connectivity and inefficiencies in the payment systems frequently delay clearance processes.
“If you are giving somebody two weeks, under the two weeks there is no network to work or to pay, then how do you justify the two weeks you give them?” Fatobilola asked.
He also noted that directives for terminal operators to reduce charges would only be effective if government addressed the high overhead costs faced by operators.
A member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr. Stanley Ezenga, argued that the challenges were not merely technical but also financial.
“Some people haven’t come to clear their cargoes because of financial constraints; they lack the financial muscle.
Even if the government gives a one-year extension, it might still not be enough for some importers,” Ezenga said.
Ezenga urged the government to adopt a more flexible policy that allows genuine importers to recover financially and avoid losing their cargoes.
The NCS, however, insists that disposal of overtime cargoes is a routine statutory process.
The service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that cargoes unclaimed within the legally stipulated period are escalated to zonal and national offices, before being formally condemned in court.
“It is a routine activity. Whenever you have an item that hasn’t been cleared, the law says you give that person 30 days.
If they can’t clear it, it would be moved to the zonal office and later to headquarters.
If the importer still fails, the items would be condemned in the court of law and published in the newspapers, inviting the person to clear the item within two weeks,” Maiwada explained.
Maritime analysts warn that if the deadline is not reviewed, the forced forfeiture of nearly 1,000 containers could lead to billions of naira in financial losses.
Importers who have invested heavily in these shipments stand to lose their goods outright, while the government may only recoup a fraction of the true value through auctions.
Industry watchers also fear the policy could further dampen investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector, especially at a time when businesses are grappling with high exchange rates, inflation, and rising operational costs.
Stakeholders are now urging the Federal Government to strike a balance between enforcing compliance and protecting economic interests.
Some suggest the introduction of a graduated penalty system, allowing importers to pay reduced fines if cargoes are cleared within extended grace periods.
Others propose collaborative interventions, including subsidized charges from shipping companies and streamlined processes at terminals.
With the September 2025 deadline drawing closer, attention will remain focused on the NCS and the Federal Ministry of Finance, which oversees Customs operations.
Whether the grace period will be extended or enforced remains uncertain.
For now, agents and freight forwarders maintain that without an extension, the industry risks significant disruptions.
Many argue that a flexible, business-friendly approach would not only safeguard investments but also enhance revenue generation for the government in the long run.
