Lagos, Nigeria – The Association of West African Exporters and Marine Professionals (AWAEMAP) warned that acute shipping container shortages and foreign lines bypassing Nigeria threaten the $44.06 billion export sector’s momentum, with cargoes piling up since December 2025 and terminals rejecting new loads.
Okay News quotes AWAEMAP President Bunmi Olumekun: “Shipping companies don’t even bring vessels to Nigeria to take exports again. They prefer to go to Cotonou… You will see a vessel coming in to discharge cargoes and sail empty to carry exports,” as 9M 2025 exports hit $44.06B (up $3.76B YoY per CBN) face sabotage despite Tinubu administration gains.
Perishables rot in terminals lacking space and vessels, recreating pre-e-call-up congestion with containers queuing on access roads and Export Processing Terminals holding loads 2-3 weeks; LWL Concept MD Lawal Wasiu blamed Iran-US war route changes: “Some shipping lines cancelled Middle East consignments… terminal operators stopped accepting export containers.”
Transporters avoid dropping empties due to delays, compounding scarcity as Middle East conflict offers foreign lines excuses to dodge Nigerian ports favoring neighboring Benin; exporters demand Federal Government intervention to protect non-oil revenue surge.
Olumekun acknowledged export progress under Tinubu but charged “foreigners want to cripple it,” while terminal operators, shipping firms, and shippers trade blame over customs clearances, vessel schedules, and arbitrary practices undermining SMEs.
The crisis risks reversing naira gains from export rebound, hitting farmers, manufacturers, and traders as global disruptions amplify local bottlenecks in Africa’s busiest port gateway.
 warned that acute shipping container shortages and foreign lines bypassing Nigeria threaten the $44.06 billion export sector's momentum, with cargoes piling up since December 2025 and terminals rejecting new loads.){kind=link}