Over 6,386 Containers Detained at Lagos Ports, NPF and Customs Rack Up N472.5m Daily Demurrage

More than 6,386 imported containers are currently being held by various government agencies at Lagos port terminals, generating an estimated N472.5 million in daily demurrage charges.

Stakeholders have blamed the rising number of detained cargoes, many of them already cleared, on the frequent interference of the Maritime Police in the cargo release process.

Investigations show that a 40-foot container attracts N120,000 daily demurrage, while a 20-foot container incurs N80,000.

At a workshop on the role of the Nigerian Police in port administration, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in collaboration with the Police Maritime Command, shipping companies, terminal operators and other port users lamented what they described as excessive disruptions and indiscriminate detention orders.

Representing Five Star Logistics Yard, Nnanna Kenneth revealed that the terminal currently has 6,386 containers under various forms of government restrictions, a situation he said is slowing cargo flow and causing frequent disputes between terminal operators and clearing agents.

According to Kenneth’s breakdown:

Nigeria Police Maritime Command: 2,000 containers

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS): 1,500 containers

Department of State Services (DSS): 801 containers

NAFDAC: 1,162 containers

NDLEA: 639 containers

Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service: 284 containers


He explained that a single letter from an agency could immobilise 15 to 20 containers at once, as all shipments linked to a particular bill of lading are automatically blocked.

Dimeji Gbadebo, Deputy Manager for Imports at MSC Nigeria, identified maritime police investigations as a major source of delay, citing frequent stop-letters and lengthy detentions that often extend for weeks or months with little feedback.

He compared Nigeria’s clearance processes to global standards, noting that:

Singapore clears cargoes within 24 hours

Lomé operates a seamless seven-day clearance system

Nigeria often struggles to clear cargoes even within 21 days


Gbadebo warned that such delays expose importers and freight agents to heavy financial losses and operational disruptions.

Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, represented by Director of Regulatory Services, Margaret Ogbonnah, confirmed receiving multiple reports from stakeholders about undue interference, intimidation of terminal and shipping line staff, and unjustified detention of already-cleared cargoes.

He said investigations revealed that many of these actions were carried out by different police formations without the knowledge or approval of the Assistant Inspector General of Police.