Dr Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), recently spoke about the ongoing challenges at Nigeria’s ports. He explained why NAGAFF has been visiting bonded terminals and why these terminals still matter, especially as Apapa port faces serious congestion.

Traffic Is Building Up Again in Apapa

Dr Aniebonam said the traffic situation around Tin Can and Mile 2 is getting worse, and he blames poor leadership and management. He stressed that the problem is not the roads — they are in good condition — but how traffic is managed.

He said he gets angry when people blame President Tinubu’s administration, because the President has delegated powers to his subordinates. Politics, he noted, has taken over issues that should not be politicised, especially something as critical as access to the ports.

He also raised concerns about the ETO call-up system, suggesting that politics is interfering with its operation. He believes the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is capable of making the right decision. According to him, those who managed the system before did a decent job, and it would have been better to improve on it rather than set up a new system to favour certain interests.

Bridges Not Meant for Parking Trucks

Dr Aniebonam warned that using bridges as stacking areas for trucks is dangerous. Bridges were built for moving cargo, not for holding heavy trucks in place. He also pointed out that weighbridges used to be standard port infrastructure. A truck meant to carry 30 tonnes should not be carrying 70 tonnes. Overweight trucks are destroying roads, and if bridges collapse, the consequences would be severe.

Why NAGAFF Is Visiting Bonded Terminals

NAGAFF has been visiting bonded terminals across the country and plans to visit more. At the end, they will write a report for the government.

Dr. Aniebonam recalled that NAGAFF wrote a report in 1999 calling for the establishment of deep seaports in Nigeria. It took the country years to begin considering it. That, he said, is how government works.

Are Bonded Terminals Still Needed?

Yes, he said. Bonded terminals were created as a solution to port congestion, and they are still needed today. Apapa port is currently so congested that when you book a container for examination, it can take up to a week for it to be positioned. This delays cargo movement and forces importers to pay demurrage charges.

He also said bonded terminals create jobs and support the economy.

However, he raised concerns about some terminals being waterlogged, which damages containers and leads to losses for importers. Sometimes these issues end up in court.

NAGAFF’s visits are meant to assess which terminals have the capacity to handle cargo operations. At one terminal they visited, the operators had adequate space, trucks, tracking systems, and the ability to handle 5,000 containers. Their operations were automated, and Dr Aniebonam said that should be the standard for all operators.

Once the report is ready, it will be sent to the Nigeria Customs Service, the NPA, and other authorities. He expects politics to slow things down, but believes the government will eventually take action and send intelligence officers to verify the findings.