Headlines

Shortage of containers hits Europe, Asian countries

Jonathan Nicole, President, SAL

—as Nigerian-bound cargo trapped in China

Eyewitness reporter

A major crisis of container shortage has hit most European and Asian countries resulting in the inability of manufacturers to export their commodities.

Nigeria, as an import-dependent country, is mostly hit by this container shortage as a large percentage of cargo bound for the country is presently trapped in China.

More than 70 percent of Nigerian imports are from China.

However, the scarcity of containers to bring in these goods from China is the major challenge facing Nigerian shippers.

Confirming the development in an interview in Lagos on Monday, Jonathan Nicole, President of the Shippers Association of Lagos (SAL), decried the untold hardship the container crisis has visited on Nigerian Importers, blaming lack of support from the government to resolve the problem.

Our reporter recalls that container shortage in Europe and Asia was exacerbated by the unorthodox practice of shipping companies in Nigeria whose vessels abandon empty containers in Nigeria after discharging their imports at Nigerian ports.

The vessels mostly leave imballast from Nigeria only to get to some African Countries like Ghana or Togo to pick empty containers, a practice that was in flagrant disregard of the directive of Nigerian authorities.

However, Nicole claimed that over 10,000 of such abandoned containers are presently in Nigeria, staying idle as they cannot be transported to China and Europe to bring in cargoes to Nigeria.

He also decried the lack of support from the state and federal governments, adding that shippers had given so much and expected government to reciprocate their efforts with some palliatives.

Nicol complained that shippers pay too many bills, adding that what they used to spend like N10,000 on before has now gone to about N200,000.

The SAL boss further bemoaned the slow pace of ongoing construction works on the West Minister end of the Tin Can Island road, adding that if care was not taken, the Tin Can Island Port would be affected.

“The bad road makes our goods fall off the trucks and this is a big challenge for shippers because their goods are not guaranteed. Insurance will say it’s a natural consequence because the roads are not part of what they insured,” Nicol lamented.

He said if the government looked into the challenges they were facing, Nigerian manufacturers are ready to contribute to Nigeria’s economy, the same way as the oil and gas and customs were doing.

Mr. Nicole observed that if Customs could generate about N2 trillion, agencies like Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) could equally generate huge sums.

“Looking at the income of Nigeria Customs Service, they were able to rake in N2 trillion, it shows how dynamic Nigerian importers and shippers are.

“In spite of the enormous challenges, the constant increase in income of the customs remains the same. So we commend the efforts of the trading community, they have done well.

“We feel that we should have been able to do more to support the government but the challenges are enormous, sometimes we wonder if the country cares because the bills we pay are also enormous.

“This is in spite of the fact that we try as much as possible to cooperate with government regulations and keep up with the expectations of government,” he said.

Nicol said there were many agitations with the shipping and terminal operators who increased their prices in 2021, adding that the government needs to fine-tune the processes in cargo clearance.

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Customs

Again, Apapa Customs intercepts, seizes two containers laden with Codeine syrup worth N3.4 billion

Funso OLOJO, Editor

In what has now become a routine exercise, the Apapa customs command of the Nigeria Customs Service has once again intercepted harmful substance suspected to be Codeine syrup.

The latest seizure was made barely five days after the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation

In a swift follow-up operation on Sunday, March 15th, 2026, the Command, in a joint collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted and seized two containers laden with a total number of 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of Codeine-containing Syrup (CSP Codeine) carefully concealed in household utensils at the Apapa Port.

Cumulatively, the seizures have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Eight Million, Naira (₦3,398,000,000.00) only.

The details of the seizures arevas follows: a Container No. MRKU 3816476 found to contain 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 38 cartons of pearl plating insulated casserole/5′ Bullet Insulated Hotspot and Container No. TGBU 5399178 was found to contain 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 36 cartons of pearl plating casserole.

Both containers have been converted to seizure in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as amended.

Speaking on the latest interception, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the seizure serves as a clear demonstration of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the directives and vision of the CGC.

“This fresh seizure, coming just five days after the CGC’s visit and strong warning to criminal elements, is a direct response to his charge on us.

“We are fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port extremely hostile to smugglers and drug traffickers,” he stated.

He commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its seamless collaboration and unwavering support in the successful operation.

Comptroller Oshoba maintained that the Apapa Area Command remains steadfast in its resolve to protect public health, safeguard national security and facilitate only legitimate trade, in line with the CGC’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven operations and zero tolerance for smuggling activities.

Aviation

FAAN resumes toll collection at Airports, adopts hybrid payment method

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) have resumed collection of toll at all its toll plazas located at the airports in the country, including Murtalar Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The toll suspension arose from the chaos which the new cashless payment method introduced by FAAN recently generated which resulted in long queues of motorists at these facilities.

This development has raised public outcry which necessitated the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the suspension of the cashless payment system.

However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of toll collection at all these plazas.

In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister declared that a hybrid access gate payment should be adopted by FAAN at the toll gates located at the Airports in the country.

“Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry.

“After reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed, the following decisions were reached:

” The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.

” In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.

” Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.

“Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available.

“Members of the public and road users are encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the Authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.

“This directive restores the previous access gate payment arrangement whilst the Ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system” the statement concluded.

Headlines

NPA shines as Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 at Champions newspaper Awards ceremony

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has won another award as the Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 conferred on the agency by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described the award as recognition of Danthoso vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa.

The NPA MD highlighted the invaluable support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, which he said has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes.

According Dantsoho, some of the key remarkable performances of NPA include sustained port efficiencies, which contributed to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.

He also mentioned the successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.

Others include completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project, technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.

Another achievement made under the leadership of Danthoso was his electorial victory as the President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA), with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.

Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.