A seasoned freight forwarder and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Chidosky Marine Concept Ltd., Nze Chidiogo Okpara, has reiterated the need for greater competitiveness of Nigerian Ports
Nze Chidiogo who stated this at a round table forum organized by the Congress of Nigeria Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) in Lagos Tuesday called for better operational environment in the maritime industry
He lamented that the cost of doing business in Nigeria’s ports is becoming highly unsustainable. Clearing a 40ft container now costs up to ₦16 million, almost ₦6 million higher than what obtains in neighboring West African ports.
“The burden is becoming unbearable, many small and medium importers are closing shop. Others are incurring debts just to survive. We need policies that encourage growth, not punishment.” he declared
Chidiogo Okpara emphasized the need for Nigeria’s maritime industry to be able to compete effectively in the global space by ensuring that the cost of cleaning goods at the nation’,s ports of entry are very competitive and comparable with what obtains in other climes.
According to him, the now-suspended 4% Free-On-Board (FOB) levy, which was inserted into the 2023 Customs Act without prior consultation and suspended twice, first in February and again in September 2025, in the view of operators has not been completely removed and is still being collected, fueling confusion and mistrust.
He maintained that globally, reforms are not just about numbers alone but about efficiency and cost effectiveness as well.
For Okpara, the solution is simply inclusive policymaking. He charged government to prioritize engagement with stakeholders before introducing reforms that affect their livelihoods.
He gave the charge on the heels of the introduction the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System in October 2024, Where it promised a new era of efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation in trade operations.
While disclosing that his firm lost over N 20 million at the early stage of the launch of B’Odogwu, Okpara said “We lost about three months of operational time. The system functioned at 30-40% capacity during the rollout. Transactions that should take minutes now took hours. We were left stranded and broke,”q
“We are not against innovation. We’re against exclusion, Systems like B’Odogwu should be piloted properly. Levies should be discussed openly. If government works with us and not against us, we can unlock Nigeria’s full maritime potential.” he added.
“Corruption, poor training, lack of infrastructure — these are the issues weighing us down,”
The B’Odogwu system may be delivering revenue gains, but for it to be truly transformative, it must also deliver fairness, usability, and long-term value to the people on the frontlines of trade — not just to the national purse. He insisted.
Despite these challenges, Okpara stated that his firm has continued to forge strong partnerships across the globe with a reputation for integrity that was built over years in the business.
Okpara who is also a philanthropist and mentor has taken upon himself the role of guiding younger agents to build their own ventures in a notoriously difficult environment.
“My passion goes beyond profit. I want to see others rise too. That’s how we build a stronger industry.” he maintained.