International Removals to and from Lagos
Moving to Lagos with movers? The ports authority names the Apapa and Tin Can terminals, runs a sticker scheme for port trucks, and says the older ports are outdated.
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Which Lagos port terminal will a container use?
The Nigerian Ports Authority’s terminal table has two Lagos port complexes, the Lagos Port Complex at Apapa and Tin Can Island Port Complex, and its ports page also lists Lekki Deep Sea Port, for which the table gives no terminals. The table does not rank the ports, so this page does not say which is busier.
At Apapa the table names APM Terminals as operator of the container terminal on berths 15 to 18A, and again at Lilypond, Ijora. It names the ENL Consortium on berths 6 to 14, where break bulk, general cargo and containers are handled. At Tin Can Island the table lists TCI Container Ltd on berths 3 to 5 for containers, and a roll-on roll-off terminal for vehicles and containers on berths 1 and 2.
Which terminal a household container uses is for the shipping line and the partner company to say, so the question for the quote is the terminal name and the berth.
What do truck stickers mean for a removal lorry in Lagos?
The authority’s truck page sets out a registration and sticker scheme for trucks serving its ports. It says: “Trucks inspected and found to meet the Minimum Safety Standard shall be issued a Safety Certification paper.” Then, after payment: “a one-year cycle sticker shall be issued accordingly”.
The page names three Lagos inspection points. For the two Lagos ports it names the authority’s annexe at Apapa, and for small fleets it says “owners in Lagos with less than ten trucks should take their trucks to Tin Can Island Truck transit Park” or to the Lily Pond Truck Transit Terminal in Ijora. The page carries an August 2020 date stamp, and it does not say whether a removal lorry collecting from a terminal needs the sticker, so ask the partner company whether its haulier has one and how a container is collected.
How congested are the roads round Apapa, and what is being done?
The Nigerian Ports Authority’s own words are the firmest evidence on the state of the Lagos ports. No road or queue figure for Apapa was read in an official source, so none is given.
The authority’s own press release for the second quarter of 2026 reports that its managing director described both ports as outdated: “Apapa is nearly 100 years old and Tin Can over 50”. It says the authority is “supporting the Lekki and Badagry deep-sea projects” and “revitalizing Eastern Ports to reduce Lagos congestion”, and prioritising its Port Community System to cut manual steps. A US guide adds that “Efforts to increase the use of scanners, especially at major ports like Apapa, are underway to reduce manual inspections.”
Nothing read gives a waiting time at the gate or a rule on lorry hours near the ports, and the building work the press release describes is a plan, not a finished project. For a delivery date, ask what allowance the quote makes for queues at the terminal.
What does the UK government say about travel in Lagos?
The UK government is the official source used here for conditions in Lagos. No official population figure or district list was read, so this page gives none.
The UK government’s safety page says: “Traffic in some areas, including Lagos, can be slow moving and you may need to allow extra time for journeys.” It also says: “Widespread public demonstrations periodically take place across Nigeria including in major cities of Abuja and Lagos.” For help it names the “British Deputy High Commission in Lagos or British High Commission in Abuja”. Lagos is not on the lists of areas where travel is advised against, as read on 5 November 2026.
Nothing read gives Lagos a rule on parking suspensions, loading hours or permits for a removal lorry. For delivery day, ask the partner company what it does about access and timing, and whether the estate or building has its own rules.
What should you ask before a Lagos move?
Ask which terminal and berth the container will use, who collects it and whether that haulier holds the authority’s sticker, how many days of free storage the quote includes, and what the plan is for queues at the gate. For customs, restricted goods and cars, the Nigeria guide sets out what is published. How a quotation is built up is explained in the removals cost guide, the sea leg in the sea freight guide and the British paperwork in the UK customs documentation checklist.
Questions about moving to or from Lagos
Which Lagos ports take containers?
The ports authority lists container terminals at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa and at Tin Can Island Port, and names Lekki Deep Sea Port without terminals.
Does a removal lorry need a port truck sticker?
The authority runs a one-year sticker scheme for trucks serving its ports.
Its page does not say whether a removal lorry needs one, so ask the partner company.
Are the roads round Apapa congested?
The authority says the ports are outdated and under a modernisation plan.
No waiting time was found.
Tell us about your Lagos move
Send the Lagos address or district, the floor, whether there is a lift or a gate, and the month you want to move.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
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- In partnership withAGM Group (agm.group)