Hadiza Bala Usman Addresses Nigerian Port Automation Issues

The Nigerian port system struggles with high cargo clearance costs despite years of promoting automation and the single window system as solutions. At the 2026 Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Lecture in Lagos, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, stated that true port modernization should be evaluated by reductions in cargo-handling costs rather than just infrastructure spending.

However, the cost of clearing a container remains among the highest in West Africa due to entrenched bureaucratic processes. Automation efforts have resulted in isolated digital systems that do not eliminate the need for multiple manual approvals, leading to additional costs for clearing agents.

Furthermore, inadequate physical port infrastructure exacerbates local charges, driven by demurrage and storage penalties from logistical failures. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council, designated as the economic port regulator, faces challenges in enforcing tariff limits against multinational shipping lines and terminal operators.