Expert seeks review of planned shipping container disposal
Lagos, June 2026 (TBL Africa) A maritime trade consultant, Mr Okey Ibeke, has called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to review the planned disposal of more than 2,500 empty shipping containers reportedly being handled by Grimaldi Nigeria.
Ibeke made the call during a roundtable discussion organised by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) on Monday in Lagos.
He said the review would help ensure full compliance with customs procedures guiding temporary importation and conversion of shipping containers for local use.
According to him, reports indicated that the containers were proposed to be sold at prices ranging between 1,600 dollars and 2,000 dollars per unit.
Ibeke noted that under Nigeria’s temporary importation framework, shipping containers are admitted duty-free on the understanding that they will be re-exported after use.
He explained that containers intended for domestic sale are required to undergo conversion to permanent import status through customs valuation and payment of the applicable duties, taxes and levies.
“Before such containers can be legally sold within the country, they must be converted to permanent import status through customs valuation and payment of applicable duties, taxes and levies,” he said.
The maritime expert said adherence to the process would support regulatory compliance, improve transparency and strengthen government revenue generation.
Ibeke estimated that duties and taxes applicable to each converted container could range from 350 dollars to 400 dollars.
He added that with over 2,500 containers reportedly involved, the transaction highlighted the importance of ensuring proper documentation and compliance procedures.
He further observed that the issue reflected broader operational realities within the shipping industry, particularly the rising cost of repositioning empty containers to export destinations in Asia and Europe.
According to him, Nigeria’s trade imbalance has contributed to the accumulation of empty containers across ports and inland locations.
Ibeke noted that many decommissioned containers had over the years been adapted for alternative uses such as offices, retail shops, storage facilities and security posts.
He called for closer collaboration among customs authorities, shipping operators and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring systems and ensure proper handling of temporary import containers.
The consultant also recommended a review of import and port exit records to enhance accountability and support ongoing reforms in the maritime and logistics sector.
He said such measures would help improve operational efficiency, strengthen investor confidence and enhance revenue administration within the industry.
