Mr. Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), has lamented Nigeria’s decline as a transshipment hub in West Africa, with Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Côte d’Ivoire now taking the lead. Speaking during his 71st birthday celebration in Lagos, where he unveiled a compendium showcasing the Council’s achievements, Amiwero attributed this loss to inadequate investment in port infrastructure.
Amiwero emphasized that establishing a maritime hub requires significant infrastructure investment to enhance the competitiveness of ports in the region. He pointed out that neighboring countries have strategically developed their ports into preferred transshipment and load centers, effectively capturing Nigeria’s trade market.
“Nigeria’s ports are lagging behind,” he stated, noting that Togo has developed its port into a near-hub status, while Ghana’s port operations now exceed those of Nigeria. He added, “Ghana has taken over our transit trade, and the transshipment destinations have shifted away from Nigeria to Togo, Benin Republic, and Côte d’Ivoire.”
Amiwero identified Nigeria’s inefficient port system as a key factor in losing its transshipment status, stating that neighboring countries are leveraging Nigerian cargo while Nigeria suffers due to lengthy and expensive processes. He warned that without significant changes to infrastructure and operational efficiency, Nigeria will continue to lose valuable cargoes to these neighboring nations, which have developed deep-seaports equipped with superior facilities.
