Maritime Transport and Trade Challenges in Nigeria

Maritime transport and trade serve as fundamental lifeline of Nigerian economy, responsible for movement of over 80% of the country's international trade by volume. Despite its importance for driving economic growth and diversification, the sector is plagued with challenges that impede its efficiency and global competitiveness. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of these multifaceted challenges, building upon a structured framework of abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, and conclusion. Through a systematic review of extant literature, government reports, and international data from 2015 to 2025, the study identifies and examines five areas of dysfunction: critical infrastructural deficits and crippling landside congestion; profound inefficiencies in port operations and customs clearance process; pervasive maritime insecurity, including piracy and crude oil theft; complex and unstable regulatory policy environment; and significant human capacity gaps. Findings reveals these challenges form a vicious cycle, where inefficiency in one area exacerbates problems in another, leading to exorbitant costs, protracted delays, and hostile business environment. The paper conclusively argues that the current state of the maritime sector acts as a significant drag on national economic development, fueling inflation, stifling investment, and massive revenue leakages. To reverse this trend, the study proposes set of recommendations, including the accelerated development of deep-sea ports, multi-modal transport links, implementation of a National Single Window for trade facilitation, sustained investment in maritime security assets, critical review of the Cabotage Act, and renewed focus on practical human capacity development. This study underscores the urgency for systemic reform and political will that can sustain economic prosperity.