By Sandra Chukwunyere
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has constituted a Special Technical Assessment Team to undertake a nationwide inspection and evaluation of licensed Customs bonded warehouses and terminals across Nigeria.
The exercise, which will cover all six geopolitical zones of the country, is aimed at assessing the operational status, service capabilities, and overall viability of bonded terminals within the nation’s cargo logistics chain.
According to a statement issued on June 8, 2026, and signed by Dr. Increase Uche, Head of the NAGAFF Trade Advocacy Committee, the decision follows growing concerns and complaints from freight forwarders and shippers over operational inefficiencies, inadequate infrastructure, and poor service delivery at several bonded warehouses and terminals.
Dr. Uche said the Technical Assessment Team has been mandated to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of bonded terminals based on clearly defined Terms of Reference designed to improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery across the sector.
Terms of Reference
The Technical Assessment Team is mandated to evaluate, among other things:
- Availability and functionality of cargo-handling equipment, including cranes, forklifts, mafi trucks, reach stackers, and other essential operational machinery
- Quality and adequacy of infrastructure and superstructure, including empty container holding bays, cargo examination bays, stacking areas, warehouse facilities, office accommodation, and security systems
- Capacity utilisation and space availability at each bonded warehouse or terminal
- Staff strength, operational competence, and quality of customer service delivery
- Strategic location, accessibility, and availability of support services necessary for efficient cargo operations
- Compliance with relevant regulatory, safety, and operational standards governing bonded terminal operations
- Level of technological deployment
- Power supply systems and reliability
Uche said the inspection will extend to bonded warehouses and terminals operating across seaports, airports, inland container depots, and other approved logistics facilities nationwide.
He added that the outcome of the exercise is expected to provide critical data and technical insights to support policy recommendations, operational improvements, enhanced cargo clearance processes, and the overall competitiveness of Nigeria’s logistics and trade facilitation sector.
The nationwide exercise is scheduled to commence on June 15, 2026, beginning with a visit to the Rolling Grazing Bonded Terminal located at Kilometer 26, opposite the Foreign Affairs Academy, along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway in Ijanikin, Lagos State.
He described the facility as one of the most modern logistics centres currently operating in Lagos State.
Dr. Uche also called on media practitioners to participate in the inspection exercise to independently observe findings that will form part of recommendations to be submitted to the government for necessary action.
He expressed concern that many bonded terminals across the country currently fall below the minimum standards required of licensed logistics facilities, stressing that the exercise is intended to encourage compliance, improve service delivery, and strengthen Nigeria’s trade and logistics ecosystem.
He reaffirmed NAGAFF’s commitment to promoting efficient cargo movement, reducing logistics bottlenecks, and advancing policies that enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
