Importer decries delays, multiple alerts in cargo clearance

Nigeria's cargo clearance process is buckling under operational friction that veteran importers say threatens the competitiveness of African supply chains. Sir Gabriel Obi, a four-decade trading veteran and CEO of Asikabbili Investment Limited, has publicly flagged persistent delays and redundant scanning alerts at Nigerian ports—a systemic issue that extends far beyond single-transaction headaches and into the fabric of import logistics costs.

The core problem: **multiple cargo alerts are being triggered during the automated scanning regime, yet resolution pathways remain opaque.** When a container triggers an alert at the X-ray or physical inspection stage, protocol demands manual intervention. But Obi's complaint reveals a gap—containers are cycling through repeated alerts, suggesting either miscalibration in the scanning equipment, inconsistent data flagging, or insufficient coordination between terminal operators and customs authorities. Each cycle costs time (demurrage charges), money (storage fees), and market access (perishables rot, seasonal goods miss windows).

## Why Are Port Scanning Delays Hitting Importers Hardest Right Now?

Nigeria's Customs Service introduced the Container Control Equipment (CCE) scanning mandate to combat smuggling and revenue leakage. Intent: sound. Execution: fractured. The scanning system is designed to flag high-risk containers for physical inspection, reducing manual checks and speeding legitimate cargo through. But when the system triggers false or redundant alerts, it inverts efficiency into gridlock. A single container may be flagged, cleared, then flagged again—placing the burden on importers to reprove legitimacy each time.

Port congestion in Lagos (Apapa and Tincan), Nigeria's largest gateway, has compounded this. With vessel turnaround times extending and container dwell times climbing above 7 days (industry target: 3–4 days), even smooth-running cargo moves slowly. Add scanning delays, and importers face:

- **Demurrage costs:** ₦50,000–₦100,000+ per TEU per day
- **Port terminal charges:** stacking, handling, gate fees
- **Opportunity cost:** missed delivery windows, customer penalties, reputation damage

For perishables, textiles, and auto parts—sectors heavily reliant on port throughput—the equation is brutal.

## How Do Scanning Alerts Differ from Standard Customs Inspection?

Scanning alerts trigger automatic holds. A physical inspection requires a customs officer's judgment and can clear cargo within hours if documentation is sound. But alerts often require escalation to supervisory customs officials or risk management units, adding bureaucratic layers. Obi's four decades of experience have shown him that *consistency* in alert management is absent—some alerts resolve in 24 hours, others languish for days, with no transparent communication on why.

## What Should Change at Nigerian Ports?

Immediate fixes: **recalibrate scanning thresholds** to reduce false positives, **publish alert resolution timelines** (e.g., high-risk alert = 48-hour max review), and **integrate terminal and customs data systems** so containers aren't rescanned redundantly. Longer-term: automation of low-risk cargo pre-clearance (leveraging AEO status and shipper history) would free scanning capacity for genuinely suspicious containers.

For Nigeria's goal of becoming a regional logistics hub, port efficiency isn't optional—it's existential. Importers will route cargo through Port Said, Antwerp, or Dubai if Lagos delays persist. The scanning regime serves a purpose. But purpose without execution breeds resentment and leakage.

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