The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has raised alarm over the growing number of abandoned empty containers at Nigerian seaports, revealing that about 100,000 empty containers are currently left unattended across the nation’s maritime terminals.
In a detailed statement by Dr Eugene Nweke, the founder of SEREC and former National President of the Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the group said the situation poses serious health hazards and environmental threats, while also creating logistical and economic burdens for port operations.
Dr Nweke explained that SEREC’s recent findings show that shipping companies would need to spend around \$9 million per vessel to ship the abandoned containers back to their countries of origin. Each shipping line could face an average cost of \$900,000 just to clear their share of empty containers from Nigerian ports.
“These abandoned containers are not just an eyesore. They are becoming a health risk, contributing to environmental pollution and worsening congestion at the ports,” Nweke stated.
According to SEREC’s research, about 45 percent of the containers currently circulating within Nigeria’s shipping space are classified as “rickety” or unseaworthy — containers no longer fit for international transportation but still being used or dumped in Nigeria.
The issue, according to SEREC, is tied to the imbalance in Nigeria’s import-export trade. While the country continues to import heavily, its export volume remains low. This leaves many containers without cargo for the return journey, forcing shipping lines to either pay to ship them back empty or abandon them altogether.
Nweke said SEREC carried out a comparative study to determine the cost of returning empty containers to major global shipping hubs like China, the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe. According to the data:
– A 20-foot container (Full Container Load) costs between \$2,000 to \$4,000 to ship back.
– A 40-foot container ranges from \$3,500 to \$6,000.
– Less than Container Load (LCL) costs \$150 to \$500 per cubic meter, depending on destination.
Shipping a container from Nigeria to China typically takes 21 to 26 days by sea, while air freight takes only 1 to 3 days, but at much higher costs.
SEREC recommends several measures to tackle the growing problem:
-Encouraging local exporters to ship more goods, creating demand for outbound container use.
-Upgrading port infrastructure and container management systems to ease congestion.
-Creating efficient container return systems to prevent dumping at the ports.
The group also called on government agencies, port authorities, and shipping companies to work together in creating and enforcing better container management strategies.
“SEREC believes the government must step in. More efficient port operations, digital tracking systems, and clear policies will help reduce the pile-up,” Nweke said.
He further urged the government to support exporters through incentives and logistical support, in order to balance trade and reduce the high number of inbound-only containers.
Nweke also reminded shipping lines that under the Customs Act 2023, containers are treated as temporary importation (TI) items. After a three-month grace period, any container not returned or re-exported is considered a dutiable import, attracting customs duties.
“It’s in the best interest of shipping lines to remove their containers within the grace period. Failure to do so could lead to additional financial penalties,” he warned.
With Nigerian seaports already facing infrastructure challenges, observers say failure to address the container crisis could worsen port congestion, increase demurrage charges, and further delay cargo clearance — all of which directly impact the economy and business operations across the country.
