SEREC Evaluates 2025, Calls for Consolidation of Port Automation, National Single Window Project in 2026
By Francis Ugwoke
The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has said that the year 2025 was not bad as far as the nation’s maritime industry is concerned, but added that the year 2026 should be decisive on consolidation of port automation and the National Single Window project for more efficient trade facilitation.
In its end of the year outlook signed by Head of Research of the organization, the Fwdr. Eugene Nweke, Rff, the group described 2025 as “neither one of dramatic transformation nor systemic collapse. Rather, it was a transition and recalibration year”.
Nweke said the year was marked by “policy articulation, institutional repositioning, improved international visibility, early-stage reforms, and persistent macroeconomic and structural pressures”.
He pointed out that in 2025, Nigeria’s maritime industry operated within four dominant realities shaped port performance, shipping decisions, trade volumes, and investor sentiment.
He identified efforts in the area of intensifying regional competition, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea, adding that there were disruptive but inevitable port and customs modernization efforts, severe macroeconomic instability, notably foreign exchange volatility.
Nweke expressed optimism that the year 2026 offers a critical opportunity to convert policy intent into measurable performance outcomes.
The report observed that Nigeria maintained compliance with key IMO instruments, including ISPS code, SOLAS,relevant safety and environmental conventions, adding that the zero piracy incidents against commercial vessels were officially reported within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea during the period, reinforcing Nigeria’s improved maritime security profile.
These achievements, according to him, reflect sustained collaboration among NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and licensed private maritime security operators( like Tantita Ltd,etc) and carries heightened importance following Nigeria’s election into the IMO Category “C” Council.
However, he expressed concerns that total ship calls into Nigerian ports in 2025 were largely flat, with marginal declines reported in some container and general cargo segments.
“Average ship turnaround time improved modestly by an estimated 10–15% in Lagos ports, primarily due to improved access roads and reduced truck congestion.
ports, primarily due to improved access roads and reduced truck congestion”, the SEREC report said.
The report added that Nigerian ports still trail regional competitors, such as
– Lome Port with average vessel turnaround of 2–3 days and
Tema Port: 3–4 days, as against
* Apapa/Tin Can: typically 5–7 days.
On Cargo Dwell Time, the report said the average cargo dwell time in Nigerian seaports remained between 10–18 days and above – compared to those of the
– Lome/Tema: 7–10 days and
global best practice of 3–5 days.
Part of the Industry Outlook issued be SEREC reads:
*NIGERIAN MARITIME INDUSTRY OUTLOOK – 2026*
*A Reconciled Reflection on 2025 and Strategic Expectations for the New Year.*
PREAMBLE
In furtherance of its institutional mandate to objectively review, appraise, and project developments within Nigeria’s maritime industry, the Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) issues this Public New Year Maritime Outlook Communiqué, anchored on a candid, data-supported reconciliation of industry performance in 2025 and realistic expectations for 2026.
The year 2025 was neither one of dramatic transformation nor systemic collapse. Rather, it was a transition and recalibration year, marked by policy articulation, institutional repositioning, improved international visibility, early-stage reforms, and persistent macroeconomic and structural pressures.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT: 2025 IN PERSPECTIVE:
In 2025, Nigeria’s maritime industry operated within four dominant realities:
* A new policy identity under the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy.
* Intensifying regional competition, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea.
* Disruptive but inevitable port and customs modernization efforts.
* Severe macroeconomic instability, notably foreign exchange volatility.
Collectively, these realities shaped port performance, shipping decisions, trade volumes, and investor sentiment.
PORT DEVELOPMENT, AUTOMATION & TRADE FACILITATION:
Port development and automation remained one of the most articulated but least consummated reform areas in 2025.
Automation & National Single Window (NSW);
* As at end-2025, Nigeria operates over 15 distinct trade-related digital platforms across port agencies, with limited interoperability.
* Human interface still accounts for an estimated 60–70% of cargo clearance touchpoints, compared with below 30% in leading regional ports.
* The National Single Window project, though widely accepted, remained largely at pilot and coordination stages, delaying expected reductions in:
* Clearance time.
* Transaction costs.
* Informal charges.
Customs Modernization & Trade Facilitation Tools;
* The Nigeria Customs Service’s migration from NICIS II to the B’Odogwu platform dominated trade facilitation discourse.
Short-term disruptions recorded:
* System downtime incidents during early deployment phases
* Temporary clearance delays, estimated at 10–20% longer processing times in affected commands.
Structural gains introduced in 2025:
* Deployment of non-intrusive inspection scanners across major ports and borders.
* Expansion of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, with compliant traders benefiting from reduced inspections.
” Operationalization of Advance Ruling, aligning Nigeria with WCO best practices
Introduction of geo-spatial surveillance and truck tracking, reducing physical checkpoints.
* Strengthened Post Clearance Audit, now centrally coordinated.
* Overall, customs modernization in 2025 was disruptive but strategically irreversible, requiring consolidation in 2026.
PORT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS – A REALITY CHECK:
SEREC reiterates that port competitiveness is measured by performance outcomes, not policy declarations.
(a). Ship Calls, Ship Dwell Time & Turnaround Time;
Total ship calls into Nigerian ports in 2025 were largely flat, with marginal declines reported in some container and general cargo segments.
Average ship turnaround time improved modestly by an estimated 10–15% in Lagos ports, primarily due to improved access roads and reduced truck congestion.
Nevertheless, Nigerian ports still trail regional competitors:
– Lome Port: average vessel turnaround of 2–3 days
* Tema Port: 3–4 days.
* Apapa/Tin Can: typically 5–7 days.
b) Cargo Dwell Time;
– Average cargo dwell time in Nigerian seaports remained between 10–18 days and above – compared to:
– Lome/Tema: 7–10 days.
Global best practice: – 3–5 days.
Primary causes include:
– Multiple agency inspections.
– Documentation duplication.
* Partial automation and system overlaps.
(c). Truck Round Trip Time:
– This was one of the most improved indicators in 2025.
– Average truck turnaround time reduced from 3–5 days (pre-ETO era) to 24–48 hours in controlled corridors.
– However, associated call-up system and logistics costs remain above regional averages, necessitating economic regulatory moderation.
(d). Port Safety & Security;
– Port facility security remained stable throughout 2025.
– Enhanced access control, surveillance systems, and inter-agency coordination improved operator confidence and reduced incident reports within port premises.
MARITIME SAFETY, SECURITY & IMO COMPLIANCE
Nigeria maintained compliance with key IMO instruments, including:
ISPS Code
SOLAS
Relevant safety and environmental conventions.
Notably, zero piracy incidents against commercial vessels were officially reported within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea during the period, reinforcing Nigeria’s improved maritime security profile.
This achievement reflects sustained collaboration among NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and licensed private maritime security operators( like Tantita Ltd,etc) and carries heightened importance following Nigeria’s election into the IMO Category “C” Council.
COST OF DOING BUSINESS & PORT ECONOMICS:
The cost of doing business in Nigerian ports remained among the highest in West Africa.
Key contributors include:
* Arbitrary and non-transparent charges.
* Terminal handling costs estimated to be 30–40% higher than comparable regional ports.
* Overlapping levies and fees.
* Implementation of the 4% FOB charge, further increasing import costs.
These factors collectively:
* Reduced Nigeria’s cargo competitiveness.
* Accelerated cargo diversion.
* Reinforced the loss of trans-shipment hub status to Lome Port.
INTERMODAL TRANSPORT & NRC PARTICIPATION:
Despite policy recognition, intermodal transport integration remained weak:
* Rail evacuation accounted for less than 5% of total port cargo movement in 2025.
* Inland waterways and pipeline logistics remain largely underdeveloped for cargo evacuation.
Without functional intermodal connectivity, Nigerian ports will continue to face:
* Higher logistics costs
* Congestion risks
Limited regional dominance.
MACROECONOMIC REALITIES & NEGATIVE PRESSURES:
The unstable foreign exchange regime remained the single most destabilizing factor in 2025.
Impacts included:
* Frequent duty recalculations.
* Rising cargo abandonment rates.
* Import throughput decline in real volume terms.
* Reduced ship calls.
* Heightened investor caution.
Given that over 80% of maritime transactions are FX-denominated, currency stability remains non-negotiable for industry sustainability.
INSTITUTIONAL & REGULATORY DYNAMICS:
The proposed National Revenue Authority (NRA) and evolving Nigeria Economic Port Regulatory Agency generated stakeholder debate, underscoring the need for clarity, phased implementation, and industry confidence.
The freight forwarding professional regulatory framework remained relatively inactive, limiting its impact on compliance, professionalism, and trade facilitation.
Nigeria’s appointment of the CGC as Chairman of the WCO Council significantly enhanced the country’s global customs governance profile.
2025 OVERALL SCORECARD (SEREC VIEW):
Area:
Policy Direction
Assessment-
Strong.
Area:
Institutional Visibility:
Assessment-
Improved.
Area:
Port User Experience-
Assessment:
Moderately Improved.
Area:
Trade Facilitation.
Assessment:
Transitional.
Area:
Cost Competitiveness-
Assessment –
Weak.
Area:
Macroeconomic Stability –
Assessment:
Fragile.
Area:
Investor Confidence –
Assessment:
Cautious. .
OUTLOOK FOR 2026:
SEREC projects that 2026 will be decisive, contingent on:
* Consolidation of port automation and the National Single Window.
* FX stability for trade predictability.
* Reduction in port costs and arbitrary charges.
* Functional intermodal transport integration.
* Clear operationalization of port economic regulation.
* Sustained maritime security gains.
* Continued support for export growth, which recorded double-digit percentage increases in non-oil segments in 2025.
CONCLUSION
The Nigerian maritime industry in 2025 laid important institutional and policy foundations, but competitiveness, predictability, and cost efficiency must define the next phase.
The year 2026 offers a critical opportunity to convert policy intent into measurable performance outcomes.
SEREC remains committed to objective analysis, constructive engagement, and evidence-based advocacy in support of a globally competitive Nigerian maritime industry.
Long Live the Nigerian Maritime Industry
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Fwdr. Eugene Nweke, Rff
Head of Research
Sea Empowerment & Research Center (SEREC – RGT).
Public New Year Maritime Outlook Communiqué – 2026.
Released 30th December, 2025.
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