Nigeria’s Waterways Choked by 100,000 Abandoned Containers — Experts Warn of Environmental Disaster

A surge in empty and deteriorating shipping containers abandoned across Nigeria’s ports and waterways is triggering grave environmental, economic, and public health consequences, according to findings by the Sea Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC).

In what experts are calling a growing national crisis, over 100,000 disused and rickety containers are reportedly clogging inland and coastal waterways, stalling freight movement, threatening livelihoods, and contaminating surrounding ecosystems. Maritime researchers warn that up to 45 percent of these containers are structurally unsafe, with many discarded by shipping lines to avoid the high cost of return freight.

According to maritime research findings reviewed by iReporter Online, returning a 20-foot container to its origin costs between $2,000 and $4,000, while a 40-foot container could incur $3,500 to $6,000 in freight charges. As a result, many liners opt to abandon empty units across Nigerian ports, contributing to a system where approximately 97 percent of inbound containers are not re-exported.

Industry insiders and environmental experts fear the environmental toll is mounting rapidly. Abandoned containers are known to corrode riverbanks, pollute drinking water, block navigable canals, and trap silt and organic waste, leading to widespread stagnation in areas like Onitsha, Warri, and Kirikiri. Fishermen report declining yields as aquatic habitats shrink under growing debris, while flood-prone communities face higher disease risks, including malaria and cholera outbreaks, due to stagnant water and vector breeding grounds.

“These containers are not inert metal boxes,” said SEREC’s Head of Research, Mr. Eugene Nweke. “They are environmental hazards, economic sinkholes, and public health risks. Our ports are choking under their weight.”

The group estimates Nigeria suffers an annual loss of over $500 million due to inefficiencies caused by the container glut. These costs include demurrage, delays in export freight handling, inflated storage fees, and weakening of the naira due to foreign exchange slippage. Carriers charge N10,000 per day in demurrage after the free days lapse, sometimes accruing over N60,000 monthly per container.

Local transport operators are also bearing the brunt. Canoe operators in riverine areas recount frequent accidents involving hidden or submerged containers. In Onitsha and Warri, some have been forced to take detours of several kilometers during the rainy season to avoid obstructions. Fish traps and nets are routinely damaged, further eroding income from artisanal fishing.

Inland communities are also affected. Soils surrounding container clusters show elevated levels of heavy metals, which experts say leach into farmlands and groundwater. This degradation undermines agriculture and local food security, particularly across floodplains and informal storage sites in the Southeast and South-South regions.

Despite multiple calls for reform, progress has been slow. At a recent high-level meeting convened in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and APM Terminals discussed a new framework for improving container flow. The NPA emphasized the strategic use of holding bays and bonded terminals to reduce congestion but acknowledged simultaneous gate closures have exacerbated the problem.

According to stakeholders, some bonded terminals have turned into makeshift storage yards, worsening port inefficiencies. Freight forwarders allege that some shipping agents deliberately delay container returns to exploit penalties and fees, while informal container yards continue to multiply in urban communities.

Mr. Remilekun Sikiru, a leader in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, noted that poor regulatory enforcement is enabling this trend. “These rickety containers are now a permanent fixture in our logistics chain. They pose a real threat to efficient port operations and national development,” he said.

Stakeholders are now urging tighter regulation, international cooperation, and the adoption of sustainable container recycling and repatriation models. Without urgent intervention, experts warn, Nigeria’s waterways could become irreparably damaged, with cascading effects on trade, health, and the environment.