In a bid to address the imbroglio arising from increase number of empty containers in the nation’s seaports, especially the ones situated in the Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos, the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stepped in.
To this end, it has met with some key stakeholders in the containers evacuation chain with a view to address the matter headlong.
The resolve of NPA to step into the matter is coming on the heels of public outcry over the delay in evacuation of empty containers leading to yard congestion at the APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
NPA General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara who dropped the hint in Lagos said NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has given his commitment to ensure smooth port operations, free from every encumbrances.
He revealed that not a few stakeholders attended the crucial meeting to discuss the challenges and chart a way forward. Those who attended include the major shipping lines such as Maersk Line, Hapag Lloyd, Pacific International Lines, PIL, CMA CGM, COSCO shipping and the APM Terminals, Apapa.
Onyemekara who disclosed that the meeting which took place on 4th of June, 2025 at the instance of the Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Adebowale Lawal.
According to the NPA General Manager, all the shipping lines present during the meeting submitted that they had holding bays which according to them, was a prerequisite for license renewal by the NPA.
Continuing, he said: “They also posited that the NPA Headquarters’ Operations Team usually inspects those holding bays to ascertain their capacity before license renewal. While requesting all the shipping lines to submit a list detailing their holding bays, including locations and capacity, the Port Management emphasized the need to be involved in the examination of those holding bays so as to keep abreast of the potential operational challenges”.
On the terminal capacity at the APM Terminals, Onyemekara quoted the shipping lines as saying that the management of APMT usually communicates available free pools to each shipping line in order to guide their container movement.
Onyemekara stated that the shipping lines also blamed the significant congestion during the period under review on a simultaneous gate closure to all the shipping lines by the management of APMT.
He however said that the APMT management insisted that the terminal reached its full capacity due to increased import and export volume arguing that there was a notable delay in the evacuation of both imports and exports by the shipping lines.
On the resolutions reached at the meeting, Onyemekara observed that it was resolved that the APMT should regularly communicate yard stock levels to the shipping lines to improve planning and coordination.
In his words: “It was also resolved that the notification period prior to terminal gate closure should be revised as follows: five (5) days initial notice in advance; three (3) days reminder before closure and one day (1) final notice before closure.
“While it was further resolved that APMT was to engage off dock terminals by moving import containers to off dock terminals in order to create more space within the terminal, the port management should actively participate in the inspection and assessment of holding bays to better understand and manage capacity and operational challenges.
“While all parties acknowledged their respective responsibilities, it was agreed that better communication, timely notification and strategic use of holding bays and bonded terminals were critical to alleviating pressure on terminal capacity.”
The NPA spokesman also Lawal emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced coordination among terminal operators, shipping lines and the port management to address the growing challenges related to terminal congestion, especially due to the accumulation of empty containers.
Recall that there have been insinuations suggesting that APM Terminals Apapa is not receiving empty containers, allegedly contributing to yard congestion. However, the terminal operator has clarified that the management of empty container evacuation into the terminal – and subsequent shipment onto vessels – is the exclusive responsibility of shipping lines, which own and control all containers.
APM Terminals Apapa Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen had in a statement said due to a sharp and sustained surge in import cargo volumes over recent weeks, shipping lines have had to prioritize discharging incoming laden containers over evacuating empties. This operational shift has resulted in a growing inventory of empty containers within the terminal, significantly limiting yard space.
“As a result of this accumulation, APM Terminals Apapa has had to temporarily restrict the reception of additional empty containers until the existing stock is cleared by the shipping lines”, the statement added.
