As the festive season draws near, importers and clearing agents across Nigeria’s maritime hubs have raised concerns over what they describe as an unprecedented sluggish import activity across ports, with cargo throughput dropping by as much as 70 percent in some terminals.
Stakeholders say the decline, which began earlier in the year, has worsened in recent months due to persisting foreign exchange instability, inconsistent trade policies, and weak consumer demand that have collectively stifled import operations at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne ports.
Industry Leaders Confirm Steep Decline in Cargo Volumes
In separate interviews with industry reporters, former interim National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Pius Ujubuonu, confirmed that import volumes had dropped significantly.
“There is no doubt that there has been a major decline in cargo throughput,” Ujubuonu said. “As of August, we estimated about a 62 to 65 percent drop in imports.
Over the past few months, that figure has deepened to around 70 percent.
This sluggish import activity across ports is a reflection of deeper macroeconomic issues, particularly the dollar scarcity and weak business confidence.”
According to him, importation is not an immediate process but one that relies on months of planning. The delayed effects of Nigeria’s fluctuating exchange rates, he explained, are now manifesting in declining port activity.
“Whatever you see happening at the ports today was influenced by decisions importers made three or four months ago.
Many traders have paused their import plans because they can’t project the true cost of forex or predict the government’s next move,” Ujubuonu added.
Policy Instability Deepens the Sluggish Import Trend
Industry players also point to frequent policy reversals and inconsistent fiscal measures as key reasons behind the slowdown.
Importers say that while infrastructure challenges used to be the major problem in port operations, the uncertainty surrounding trade and tariff policies has become a bigger deterrent.
“The government’s regular policy somersaults are part of the problem,” Ujubuonu noted.
“Before, we used to talk about bad roads or congestion. Now, it’s about fiscal unpredictability. Businesses can’t plan when the rules keep changing.”
He further warned that if the situation persists, sluggish import activity across ports could continue into the first quarter of 2026, with ripple effects on jobs, port revenue, and local market supply.
Mixed Reactions from Freight Forwarders
While some freight forwarding associations confirmed the steep decline, others believe the situation is less severe.
The former Secretary-General of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Emeka Okonkwo, said importation had reduced but not as dramatically as others claim.
“Importation has dropped, yes, but not by 80 percent,” Okonkwo said.
“From my observation, it’s around 40 to 50 percent. Normally, by this time of the year, importation surges ahead of Christmas, but this year, things are different.
Liquidity is tight, demand is low, and goods from previous consignments are still unsold in warehouses.”
He linked the sluggish import activity across ports to dwindling consumer purchasing power and the high cost of doing business.
“When people can’t afford to buy, traders stop importing, and that affects everyone from shipping lines to truck drivers,” he added.
Maritime Elders Lament Decline in Port Operations
Veteran maritime stakeholder, Ugochukwu Nnadi, who is a member of the Elders of Maritime Agents and Associations, painted an even grimmer picture. He noted that cargo activities have been “very dull,” with shipping lines operating far below capacity.
“Importations are very slow. Most shipping companies now have only one or two ships coming in until the end of the year,” Nnadi said.
“In the past, the ports were congested, but now terminals are half-empty.
There’s an over 80 percent drop compared to previous years, and that tells you the system is struggling.”
He attributed the situation to high business costs and uncertainty surrounding government taxation policies.
Divergent Views on Import Data
However, not all stakeholders agree on the extent of the decline.
The National President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Frank Ogunojemite, argued that import activity has not declined but rather shifted due to changing market dynamics.
“There is no drop in importation,” Ogunojemite said.
“Freight rates from China to Nigeria have increased, which suggests that trade volumes remain strong.
If importation had really dropped, freight charges would have fallen.
The problem might be uneven distribution among terminals, not an overall collapse.”
Data Reflects Persistent Decline in Vehicle Imports
Supporting the narrative of weaker trade flows, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria’s vehicle imports have continued to decline, reflecting the general slowdown across the import sector.
According to the NBS, the total value of passenger motor vehicle imports in the first half of 2025 stood at ₦479.26 billion, representing a 9.69 percent decrease from ₦530.67 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
A quarterly breakdown revealed imports of ₦224.58 billion in Q1 and ₦254.67 billion in Q2 2025, compared to ₦238.73 billion and ₦291.93 billion in the corresponding quarters of 2024.
The data points to sustained sluggish import activity across ports, with declining demand from consumers and businesses.
Dealers and analysts blame foreign exchange constraints, high import duties, and shrinking household income for the drop, noting that these challenges are discouraging traders from bringing in new shipments.
Outlook: Reversing the Trend
Stakeholders say that to reverse the sluggish import activity across ports, the government must stabilize the exchange rate, streamline port charges, and introduce clear, consistent trade policies.
They also call for greater collaboration between the Central Bank of Nigeria, Customs, and port operators to ease liquidity pressures on importers.
“The sector needs a confidence boost,” Ujubuonu concluded.
“Once forex becomes predictable and trade policies stop changing abruptly, importation will recover naturally.”
For now, however, Nigeria’s ports continue to operate below capacity, signaling the need for urgent reforms to restore investor confidence and sustain economic recovery.
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