Port activities across Nigeria have ground to a halt as persistent glitches on the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) B’Odogwu digital platform left over 5,000 containers stranded in Lagos and Rivers ports.
According to The Guardian, for nearly three weeks, importers and manufacturers have been unable to process payments, register documents, or secure cargo clearance. Key procedures—such as logging into the platform, generating Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR), and duty payments—now take over a week instead of the usual 24 hours.
The disruption has triggered heavy demurrage charges. A 40-foot container attracts between ₦120,000 and ₦140,000 per day, while a 20-foot container costs about ₦80,000 daily. Demurrage for cars, trucks, and heavy equipment adds further strain.
Stakeholders say losses have already exceeded ₦2 trillion. “For almost three weeks, nothing has been moving. Importers with multiple containers are losing millions daily,” said Clinton Okoro, Public Relations Officer of the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON).
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, admitted that hackers attempted to breach the system but insisted that part of the problem has been resolved. However, users argue that the situation remains critical, with cargo movement at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne ports virtually paralyzed.
Industry leaders warn that if the system is not restored quickly, manufacturers may be forced to scale down production or shut down, worsening inflation and supply chain instability.
