Container gateway · Nigeria
Port of Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)
Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) is a container gateway on the Gulf of Guinea in Nigeria (West Africa). Below: key facts, how it connects with Vietnam and what to prepare when shipping through it.
Get a quote for Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) Market guide: Nigeria
Key facts
- Country / territory
- Nigeria
- UN/LOCODE
- NGLOS
- Port type
- Container gateway
- Region
- West Africa
- Waters
- Gulf of Guinea
- Coordinates
- 6.43°N, 3.38°E
- Container throughput
- No verified figure published here
- Sea distance from Vietnam
- approx. 8,960 nm
About the port of Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)
Lagos’s Apapa and Tin Can Island ports handle most of Nigeria’s container imports. Congestion and access roads can affect dwell times, and the newer Lekki Deep Sea Port east of the city has added capacity since 2023.
Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) is a container gateway: most boxes handled are imports and exports for its own hinterland, carried on mainline and regional services.
Role in trade with Vietnam
West African ports are served from Asia mainly via the Cape of Good Hope, frequently with transshipment in Singapore, Port Klang, Lomé or other regional hubs.
Sea routes and transit times from Vietnam
Estimated port-to-port distances and transit times on typical routings. Actual schedules depend on the service and its port rotation.
| Route | Distance | Transit (direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Cai Mep – Thi Vai → Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) | 8,960 | 23–27 days |
Shipping lines
Most global carriers and regional lines serve this region. We check current services and space for your shipment when quoting. All shipping lines →
Customs and documentation tips
- Make sure the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and customs declaration show consistent descriptions, HS codes, quantities and weights.
- Agree the Incoterms® rule and who arranges freight, insurance and destination charges before booking.
- Choose the bill of lading type (original, telex release or sea waybill) according to the payment terms with your buyer or supplier.
- Declare the verified gross mass (VGM) of each container before the carrier’s cut-off, as required by SOLAS.
- Check destination import requirements early: licences, product standards, labelling, fumigation or phytosanitary certificates where applicable.
Frequently asked questions about Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)
Where is the port of Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)?
Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) is in Nigeria, on the Gulf of Guinea, in the West Africa shipping region.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)?
The UN/LOCODE commonly used for Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) is NGLOS. Check the exact terminal or location code required by the carrier when booking.
How long does sea freight take from Vietnam to Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)?
On a typical routing from Cai Mep – Thi Vai, the sea distance is about 8,960 nautical miles and a direct service takes roughly 23–27 days port to port. Services with transshipment take longer.
What documents are needed to ship via Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)?
Usually a commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus any certificates required by the destination (origin, phytosanitary, fumigation, licences). Advance cargo filings may apply before loading.
Can Global Logistic Group arrange shipping to or from Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island)?
Yes. We arrange FCL and LCL ocean freight, customs clearance and inland transport for Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can Island) through our carrier contracts and agent network. Send us your cargo details for a quote.
Information on this page is general guidance compiled by Global Logistic Group from public sources. Port facilities, carrier networks, routings and transit times change frequently; always confirm current schedules, cut-offs and requirements with us or the carrier before booking. Data as of October 2026.