N7m clears container in Cotonou, same cargo costs N15m in Apapa — IMAN

May 28, 2026

•Importers remain govt’s biggest revenue source after oil — Yar’adua

By Efe Onodjae

The Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has decried the rising cost of cargo clearance at Nigerian ports, revealing that while it costs between N7 million and N8 million to clear a 20-foot container in Cotonou, Benin Republic, the same container attracts between N14 million and N15 million at Apapa Port in Lagos.

The Association described the disparity as a major reason many Nigerian importers are diverting cargoes to neighbouring West African countries, including Benin Republic, Ghana and Togo, where port charges are lower and operations are more efficient.