Updated 28 September 2026 · Travo.ng
Quick answer
Trucking a container out of Apapa or Tin Can Island port is priced per trip, and the price depends on the container size, the destination, and how long the truck waits for Eto call-up and loading. The most recent published figures are all from 2024–2025: ₦700,000 for a 40ft container from Apapa to a Lagos warehouse (November 2024), about ₦880,000–₦900,000 for a 40ft to Alaba market and ₦400,000 for a 20ft (April 2025), and a drop to about ₦350,000 on some trips once the call-up system improved (July 2025). We could not find a reliable published 2026 rate card, so get a written quote for your exact route.
Lagos handles a large share of Nigeria’s container imports through Apapa and Tin Can Island ports. Getting a box off the quay and into your warehouse is often harder than the ocean voyage. Port access, the truck call-up system, checkpoints on the port roads and the return of the empty container all add time and cost. This guide explains how port container haulage works in Lagos, the latest published prices, what makes them swing, and how to avoid the common traps.
How container haulage from Apapa and Tin Can works
- Clearance and release. Your licensed customs agent completes the customs entry, pays duties and gets the container released by customs and the terminal.
- Shipping line release. You settle the shipping line’s charges and obtain the delivery order.
- Truck call-up. Trucks must get a call-up slot through the Nigerian Ports Authority’s electronic Eto call-up system before they can go to the port.
- Loading. The truck enters the terminal, and the container is loaded and checked out.
- Delivery. The truck moves the container to your warehouse, factory or market, where it is unloaded.
- Empty return. The empty container goes back to the shipping line’s designated holding bay. Late returns can attract charges from the shipping line.
A delay at any of these steps costs money, because a truck waiting at the port is a truck not earning elsewhere, and hauliers price that risk into their quotes.
Container haulage prices from Lagos ports: what the reports show
| Route | Container | Reported price | Date and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apapa to a Lagos warehouse | 40ft | ₦700,000 (up from ₦350,000) | Nov 2024, BusinessDay |
| Apapa to a Lagos warehouse | 20ft | ₦450,000 (up from ₦200,000–₦250,000) | Nov 2024, BusinessDay |
| Apapa to Mushin warehouse | 40ft | ₦700,000 (up from ₦300,000–₦400,000) | Nov 2024, BusinessDay |
| Apapa to Alaba / Aspanda markets | 40ft | About ₦880,000–₦900,000 | Apr 2025, The Guardian |
| Apapa (same area) | 20ft | ₦400,000 | Apr 2025, The Guardian |
| Tin Can to the same markets | 40ft | ₦350,000 | Apr 2025, The Guardian |
| Lekki port to the same markets | 40ft | ₦550,000 | Apr 2025, The Guardian |
| Apapa trips (ANLCA Apapa chapter) | Not stated | Down from ₦1.2 million to ₦350,000 | Jul 2025, The Guardian |
Sources: BusinessDay, 6 Nov 2024; The Guardian, 2 Apr 2025; The Guardian, 1 Jul 2025. These are reported figures from specific periods, not current rate cards.
The swings are large. In November 2024, a trucker told BusinessDay a 40ft trip from Apapa to Ikeja cost ₦700,000, and one agent warned it could reach ₦1 million if congestion continued. By July 2025, the chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Apapa chapter said costs had fallen by more than 70%, from ₦1.2 million to ₦350,000, after problems with the Eto call-up system eased. In other words, the price depends heavily on how smoothly the port is running in the week you move your box.
Other port costs to budget for
Haulage is only one line on the bill. Nairametrics’ May 2026 look at the cost of moving a container through Apapa for export gives a sense of the other port-side charges in 2026:
| Charge (export side) | Reported cost, May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Terminal handling | ₦100,000–₦120,000 per container |
| Container stuffing | ₦130,000–₦150,000 |
| Freight forwarding services | ₦200,000–₦250,000 per container |
| Inspection fees | ₦100,000–₦150,000 per container |
| Certificates (origin, fumigation, phytosanitary) | ₦25,000–₦40,000 |
| NXP processing | ₦8,000 per transaction |
Source: Nairametrics, 31 May 2026. These are export-side costs; import charges differ but are of a similar order.
For imports, you will also pay customs duties, terminal charges, shipping line charges and, if the container is held too long, storage and demurrage. Our guide to customs clearance and import duty explains how duty is worked out.
What affects the price of port haulage in Lagos
- Port congestion and Eto call-up. When trucks wait days for call-up or loading, prices rise. When the system flows, they fall.
- Which port. The Guardian’s April 2025 figures show the same 40ft trip to Alaba costing far less from Tin Can than from Apapa.
- Container size and weight. A 40ft container costs more than a 20ft on the same route. Very heavy loads may need specific trucks.
- Distance and road conditions. Trips outside Lagos, to Ogun, Ibadan, the East or the North, are priced on distance, fuel and road risk.
- Diesel prices. Fuel is one of a haulier’s biggest costs. See our guide to diesel prices and logistics.
- Checkpoints and informal charges. In April 2025, the head of the AMATO technical department told The Guardian that a cabal was selling one-way call-up access tickets for ₦250,000 to ₦300,000 per truck.
- Empty return. Some quotes include taking the empty container back to the holding bay; others do not.
20ft vs 40ft: which to choose
| 20ft container | 40ft container | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Heavy, dense cargo such as tiles, machinery parts or bagged goods | Lighter, bulky cargo such as furniture, clothing or mixed goods |
| Haulage cost | Lower per trip | Higher per trip, often lower per cubic metre |
| Access | Easier in tight streets and markets | Needs more space to turn and unload |
Travo planning guide. Always check the weight limits with your haulier.
How to book container haulage from Lagos ports
- Share the container number, size, port (Apapa or Tin Can), the delivery address and when the container will be released.
- Ask for a written quote that states what is included: call-up, loading, delivery, offloading time and empty return.
- Confirm the truck details, driver name and phone number before loading.
- Make sure your goods are insured while on the road (goods-in-transit cover).
- Track the truck and confirm delivery with a signed waybill.
- Return the empty container on time to avoid shipping line charges.
Safety and scam tips
- Do not pay anyone who offers to “fast-track” call-up or loading for cash. Use official channels.
- Pay hauliers by traceable transfer to a business account, not cash to a driver.
- Keep copies of the delivery order, customs release and gate documents.
- Check the seal number on the container when it arrives and before it is opened.
- For high-value cargo, consider an escort or tracking device, and avoid night driving on risky routes.
Need a truck for a container?
Book container haulage from Apapa or Tin Can with Travo, or send us the container details on WhatsApp for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move a 40ft container from Apapa to Ikeja?
The last published figure we found was ₦700,000 for a 40ft trip from Apapa to Ikeja (BusinessDay, November 2024). Prices have moved up and down since then with port congestion, so get a current quote.
Is Tin Can cheaper than Apapa for haulage?
In April 2025, The Guardian reported a 40ft trip to Alaba market cost ₦350,000 from Tin Can against about ₦900,000 from Apapa. Conditions change, so compare quotes each time.
What is the Eto call-up system?
It is the Nigerian Ports Authority’s electronic system that gives trucks time slots to enter the port. It was brought in to reduce congestion on the port roads.
Does the haulage price include returning the empty container?
Not always. Ask your haulier to state in writing whether the empty return to the holding bay is included.
Can Travo move containers outside Lagos?
Yes. Travo arranges haulage across Nigeria. Share the route and container size for a quote.
Why do haulage prices from Lagos ports change so much?
Mainly because of waiting time at the port, the call-up system, fuel prices and checkpoint costs. When trucks wait longer, prices go up.
Related guides
- Haulage services with Travo
- Book a van or truck anywhere in Nigeria
- Truck prices in Nigeria
- Last-mile delivery warehouse in Lagos
- How to start a haulage business in Nigeria
Sources: BusinessDay (6 November 2024); The Guardian (2 April 2025); The Guardian (1 July 2025); Nairametrics (31 May 2026). Travo is a logistics booking platform and is not an agent of the Nigerian Ports Authority or any terminal operator. Fares and prices change often — confirm before you travel or pay.
