SEREC: Nigeria risks losing cargo to Benin, Togo ports

Nigeria’s maritime sector is facing growing pressure as persistent inefficiencies threaten to divert cargo to neighbouring countries, the Sea Empowerment & Research Center has warned.

In a policy advisory titled “Maritime Reform at a Crossroads: Data Signals, Export Concerns, and the Urgent Need for Execution Discipline,” SEREC highlighted troubling trends in the first quarter of 2026, pointing to structural weaknesses in port operations.

While customs revenue recorded an estimated growth of 12 to 18 percent, key operational metrics remained weak. The report noted that average cargo dwell time exceeded 15 days, while vessel turnaround time ranged between four and six days—figures considered uncompetitive by global standards.

The advisory also revealed a decline of about 8 to 12 percent in non-oil export throughput, signaling a gradual erosion of Nigeria’s export competitiveness. According to SEREC, delays in cargo processing, poor prioritisation at port terminals, and logistics bottlenecks are undermining the country’s export ecosystem, particularly affecting agro-exports.

“The system remains structurally tilted toward imports,” the report stated, warning that neglecting export facilitation could weaken Nigeria’s trade balance over time.

SEREC identified increasing competition from ports in Benin Republic and Togo, where lower costs, faster cargo clearance, and more predictable regulations are attracting Nigerian-bound shipments.

Ports along the Cotonou–Lomé corridor are gaining traction, supported by efficient transshipment systems and expanding cross-border trucking networks.

The report warned that if current trends persist, between 15 and 25 percent of cargo destined for Nigeria could be diverted to neighbouring ports within the next 12 to 24 months.

“This is not a theoretical risk—it is already happening. Cargo flows to where systems work best, not necessarily where geography dictates,” the advisory noted.

SEREC cautioned that the implications could be severe, including revenue losses from customs duties and port charges, distortion of trade data, job losses in the logistics sector, and a gradual decline in Nigeria’s status as a regional maritime hub.

The report stressed that without urgent reforms, Nigeria risks becoming merely a destination market dependent on external port infrastructure rather than a leading maritime hub in the regiona