Nigerian Seaports Choking On Containers Crisis – SEREC
..As Over 100,000 Empty TEUs Threaten Health, Environment
A shocking investigation reveals that the nation’s ports are drowning in a sea of empty containers, creating an environmental and health catastrophe as freight forwarders estimate between 65,000 and 100,000 (twenty-foot equivalent units) TEUs of empty containers are littering Nigerian ports.
According to the Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) pinpoints the exorbitant costs of shipping empty containers back to Europe, Asia, the US, and the Middle East as the primary culprit.
Eugene Nweke , Head of SEREC in a statement on Sunday June 8 2025 alleged that for years, shipping lines have been offloading cargo-filled containers in Nigeria, only to return to their origin ports with a paltry number of export containers, adding that a staggering 97% of containers leave empty, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Giving a breakdown of the cost breakdown , he revealed that 20ft Container (FCL): $2,000-$4,000; 40ft Container (FCL): $3,500-$6,000, whilst Less than Container Load (LCL): $150-$500 per cubic meter.
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Further breakdown from the statement added that with transit times to China ranging from 21-26 days by sea, the financial burden on shipping lines is immense. SEREC also estimated a ship carrying 4,500 TEUs would incur approximately $9 million to return empty containers.
“Adding insult to injury, a reported 45% of containers circulating in Nigeria are “lickety” containers, deemed unseaworthy and posing significant safety risks.”
However, SEREC proposes a three-pronged approach to combat this escalating crisis: which include – “Export Bonanza: Incentivize Nigerian businesses to ramp up exports, reducing the number of empty containers.
“Port Overhaul: Invest in modern port facilities and management systems to optimize container handling and alleviate congestion.
“Efficient Returns: Implement streamlined container return systems to minimize the accumulation of empty containers in ports.
However, SEREC reminded shipping lines that under the Customs Act 2023, containers are classified as temporary imports. After a three-month grace period, these containers will be subject to import duties