THE Nigerian maritime industry has yet to overcome the persistent challenge of how to manage empties, reports Lagos's Punch.

In a 2022 World Bank study, Nigeria was cited as one of the top 20 countries with the highest imbalance between imports and exports. Most containers entering Nigeria are left empty after unloading.



The problem is most pronounced in the two busiest ports in the country - Apapa and Tincan Island.



These account for 80 per cent of Nigeria's total cargo traffic, and the high volume of imports, combined with insufficient export activity, leads to a glut of empties.



The problem not only affects port efficiency but also has significant economic, environmental, and operational implications for the entire supply chain, said the report.



Despite efforts by the Nigerian government, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and other stakeholders to modernise and streamline operations, empty containers continue to accumulate at ports and terminals, creating a bottleneck in the flow of goods.



Once goods are delivered, containers often return empty to their country of origin to be refilled with new shipments. However, the sheer volume of empties has reached alarming levels.



In a 2022 World Bank study, Nigeria was cited as one of the top 20 countries with the highest imbalance between imports and exports. Most containers entering Nigeria are left empty after unloading.



This directly contributes to the large number of empty containers. The report also highlighted that this imbalance has been exacerbated by the country's limited manufacturing base and the slow pace of export diversification.