AHEAD OF MAMAL 2026: “POLICY INCONSISTENCY, EQUIPMENT GAP UNDERMINING NIGERIAN PORTS”- FARINTO , IBEKE

“Policy Inconsistency, Equipment Gap Undermining Nigerian Ports” – Farinto, Ibeke

By Babatunde Aremu

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector have said the country’s ports still lag behind neighbouring ports such as *Cotonou and Lome* in terms of competitiveness, despite Nigeria’s advantage in market size, cargo volume and traffic.

The concerns were raised ahead of the *Annual Maritime Lecture, MAMAL 2026*, organised by the *Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN*, with the theme: _“Nigeria Ports Modernisation, Charges and the Competitiveness Question.”_

*Market Advantage, Policy Gaps*
Former Acting President of the *Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto*, said Nigeria’s huge market and cargo volume remain major advantages that enable its ports to compete with neighbouring countries.

However, he warned that *policy inconsistencies, inadequate terminal equipment and uncertainty surrounding concession agreements* are undermining the country’s competitiveness.

_“Well, Nigeria has advantage of market and volume. But there are some policies that need to be reviewed for Nigeria to be able to compete favourably,”_ Farinto said.

Comparing Nigeria with Cotonou, he noted that importers in Benin benefit from more favourable *storage and demurrage arrangements*, including waivers and concessions.

_“Cotonou gives you four days before your demurrage continues to accrue. They give waivers. Importers whose consignments remain at the port are also given concessions,”_ he stated.

Farinto called on the Federal Government to create a better enabling environment through consistent and predictable policies, and to renew concession agreements of terminal operators to encourage investment in modern cargo-handling equipment.

_“If their concession agreement is renewed, everybody will want to bring in new handling equipment. This is very, very paramount,”_ he said.

He also said stakeholders need to examine the recently signed legislation affecting the *Nigerian Shippers’ Council* to determine if it strengthens the council’s regulatory powers.

_“If it is positioning Shippers’ Council better now, that means our Shippers’ Council can bite,”_ he added.

*Compliance and Corruption Challenges*
Also speaking, the founder of *International Trade Advisory Services Limited, ITASL, Okey Ibeke*, offered a more critical assessment, saying Nigerian ports remain uncompetitive when measured against neighbours.

_“If you ask me if the ports are currently competitive, I will tell you they are not. The measuring index is our neighbouring ports,”_ Ibeke said.

He identified *entrenched resistance to change, vested interests, and compliance failures* as fundamental issues. Citing the Port Access Road, he said those benefiting from chaos and bribe collection are frustrating government reform efforts.

On compliance, Ibeke said it is the root cause of non-competitiveness. _“Security agencies are feeding on the non-compliance of our importers… if you do all the automation in the whole world, if the compliance level does not increase, it would frustrate the whole system,”_ he stated.

He faulted the practice of wrong classification, undervaluation and concealment by importers, and called on the *National Orientation Agency* to intervene.

He noted that while Cotonou and Lome also have vices, false declarations attract outright seizure, unlike Nigeria where Customs exercises discretion through Debit Notes.

_“There is need for attitudinal change in Nigerian ports, corruption has now become a norm, people no longer see it as doing the wrong thing,”_ he said.

Ibeke warned that strict enforcement by Customs could provoke backlash and congestion, noting that _“Customs have decided to submit to the blackmail.”_