ANLCA Celebrates Over 70% Crash in Apapa Port Haulage Costs

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has announced a major breakthrough in port logistics, revealing that the cost of transporting containers from the Apapa Port in Lagos has dropped by more than 70 percent.

This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, to the ANLCA headquarters in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Apapa Chapter of ANLCA, Emeka Chukwumalu, described the reduction in haulage costs from an average of ₦1.2 million to just ₦350,000 as a historic relief for port users and stakeholders.

“This is a significant milestone for us. The drastic drop in haulage costs has positively impacted our operations, reduced overheads, and improved profitability,” Chukwumalu said.

He attributed the earlier high transport costs to inefficiencies and corruption linked to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s Eto Call-up system. Port users had long complained about the flawed system, which caused lengthy delays for trucks attempting to access the port.

These issues were worsened by illegal checkpoints and extortion along the port corridor.

Chukwumalu also commended Dr. Olomu and his team for their recent training programme for clearing agents, noting that the initiative has improved the understanding of port procedures and reduced delays associated with documentation and compliance.

“The comprehensive training has enabled our members to better navigate the Eto system. This has streamlined the movement of goods, boosted operational efficiency, and translated into significant financial gains,” he added.

The development has been welcomed as a major win for Nigeria’s logistics and port sector, with stakeholders urging the federal government to sustain the reforms and enforce stricter oversight to prevent a reversal of the gains.