Nigeria is losing over $500 million annually due to a growing crisis of unreturned empty containers clogging its seaports, according to a new report by the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC).
The report, "Implications and Burden of Unreturned Empty Containers Littering Our Shipping Space," highlights severe impacts, including port congestion, high shipping and storage costs, and environmental hazards.
More than 100,000 empty containers are currently stranded in Nigerian ports. Returning them to origin ports costs between $2,000 and $6,000 per container, while storage and demurrage fees continue to climb — with shippers paying up to ₦60,000 per container monthly.
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SEREC's Head of Research, Eugene Nweke, warned that 45% of the containers are unseaworthy, posing risks to public health and the environment.
To address the crisis, SEREC is urging the government to implement a strategic container return system, coordinated by the NSC, NPA, and CRFFN. The centre also advocates for export promotion, infrastructure investment, and a demurrage tax on overdue containers, following global models used in countries like Germany, the UK, and Australia.
Without action, the crisis threatens Nigeria's economy and port efficiency.
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