TOGO
One Stop, Zero Stress: Lomé Container Terminal Puts Clients First
Lomé continues to stand out as one of West Africa’s leading container hubs, and the Port of Lomé has taken another step to strengthen the client experience. For shipping companies moving cargo in, out, or through the region, that is welcome news.
Lomé Container Terminal (LCT) has rolled out a brand-new one-stop customer service model, designed to replace the old patchwork of contacts with something much simpler: one door, one conversation, one clear answer. Billing and appointments now live under the same roof, complaints are tracked from start to finish, and a dedicated customer service unit reports straight to senior management — meaning client feedback actually lands where it counts.
The overhaul rests on four pillars: a single point of contact, an independent service unit, sharper complaint handling, and a firm commitment to transparency — all aligned with ISO 9001 standards.
The timing couldn't be better. Port traffic climbed 17% in March 2026, and with Lomé increasingly positioned as a strategic alternative hub for global shippers navigating disruptions elsewhere, demand is only heading one way. By investing in service quality now, LCT is making sure growth doesn't come at the expense of client experience.
Shipping to Togo? Expect faster responses, traceable cases and a smoother interface at one of Africa's busiest ports — meaning every certificate we issue carries that bit more certainty all the way to the quay.
Sources: togofirst.com | savoirnews.net | gnawo.com
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BENIN
Phase 1 Delivered: Why Cotonou Is the Port To Watch
When a vessel approaches Benin's coastline today, it berths at a port that has been thoroughly transformed. Since late January, ships with a draught of up to sixteen metres can maneuver seamlessly into Cotonou, henceforth liberated from the necessity of rerouting to secondary hubs in search of adequate depths.
This expansion optimizes the supply chain and rationalizes costs, marking a real shift for operators on three fronts. By increasing capacity, the port has slashed lead times, replacing chronic congestion with fluid berthing. This efficiency eliminates demurrage charges, protecting importer margins from the parasitic penalties caused by previous delays. Finally, by welcoming high-capacity vessels directly, Cotonou removes the need for regional transshipments, allowing importers to benefit from significant economies of scale and lower freight tariffs.
Benin has been quietly building toward this moment for four years. A rolling programme of roughly a dozen interlocking works, stretching through 2026, has been supported by a mix of public and private actors, including the government, the African Development Bank, and port-sector stakeholders. On 30 January, the Eiffage-led consortium — partnering with Beninese firm Adéoti — delivered the first four hundred metres of freshly poured quay: clear proof that the programme is landing on schedule.
For businesses moving goods into Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and northern Nigeria, the gains are tangible: quicker berthing; larger, more efficient ships feeding their economies of scale down the chain and smoother onward transits up the Sahel corridor. Landed costs finally line up with what your planning spreadsheets have been promising.
In sum, moving cargo through Benin has been simplified: shorter waits, leaner costs and a port that finally matches the ambition of the Sahel corridor.
Sources: portsafrica.com | eeiffage.com | noshglintertrans.com
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IVORY COAST
Abidjan Clears The Corridor: 25 Years of Stamps, Gone Overnight
Good news for anyone moving cargo through West Africa: Côte d'Ivoire has just cut one of the region's most persistent logistics bottlenecks loose — and shippers bound for Mali and Burkina Faso are already feeling the difference.
Until this month, goods leaving Abidjan for Bamako or Ouagadougou had to pass through a decades-old paperwork ritual. Every export declaration needed a stamp of approval from Malian and Burkinabé customs representatives based in Côte d'Ivoire before cargo could move. That single step, in place for roughly 25 years, regularly added hours — sometimes days to transit times along two of the most important hinterland corridors in West Africa.
This month, that requirement is gone. No more back-and-forth between counters. No more cargo sitting idle while documents chase signatures. Detailed declarations can now go directly to the competent customs offices and goods keep moving.
So what is replacing the paperwork? Technology, and plenty of it. Transit to Mali now runs on the T1 Transit Management IT Module, while trade with Burkina Faso flows through SIGMAT — the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit. These systems exchange customs data securely and in real time, which preserves traceability while removing a paper-based step.
For brokers, carriers and the businesses relying on them, this is a real breath of fresh air. Expect fewer delays, lower administrative friction, and smoother transit along the Abidjan–Bamako and Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridors. The Abidjan–Bamako and Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridors should become faster and more predictable.
The ripple effects extend well beyond the border. By trading red tape for digital collaboration, Côte d’Ivoire is doubling down on its role as the natural gateway to Sahelian economies and a trusted partner for landlocked Mali and Burkina Faso: more predictable supply chains, more competitive pricing and a stronger, more connected West Africa.
For our clients shipping into the region, the bottom line is simple: faster certificates, smoother clearances and a corridor that is finally moving at the speed of trade.
Sources: theheraldghana.com | rti.info | westafricaweekly.com | afrimag.net
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