The research study on the major challenges faced by shippers and port management at various
major selected ports in West Africa revealed that, there are Limited yard capacity, truck traffic
congestion, Few berths to accommodate the inbound vessels and low cargo dwell time, delays
in berthing, inadequately integrated mode of transportation and Port congestion, Lack of
regulated transport freight which were ranks 1st, 2nd and 3rd. and other such as high tariffs,
inadequate infrastructure, corruption, and manual documentation in ports, all these hinder
trade efficiency and economic growth in the maritime industry. To investigate these issues,
primary and secondary data were collected from six major ports in the region, Apapa and
Tincan Island in Nigeria, Tema in Ghana, Cotonou in Benin, Lome in Togo, Abidjan in
Côted'Ivoire, and Monrovia in Liberia. The research employed a cross-sectional design,
utilizing questionnaires administered to respondents in West Africa with the assistance of field
assistants from Shippers Council Authorities. A survey of 929 individuals yielded a 52.8%
response rate, the data collected were analyzed using statistical tools such as ANOVA. The
results obtained from the analysis will aid the shippers’ indecision and comparing port multiple
groups simultaneously. The study assesses the impact of independent variables, and draw
meaningful conclusions from the data analysis using SPSS, and Excel to evaluate hypotheses
regarding port selection determinants. A four-point Likert scale was employed to gauge
respondents' agreement levels, data analysis was conducted using frequencies, means, and
percentages to investigate shippers' opinions on port choice in the region. A 30% sample was
selected from the study population at each West African port. Challenges like truck congestion
and limited yard capacity were highlighted as significant issues affecting port operations. The
research underscores the importance of examining shippers' choice of cargo destination ports
in West Africa to enhance port efficiency, revenue generation, and overall economic growth in
the region. By drawing on choice theory, fuzzy set theory, and random utility theory, the study
provides actionable recommendations to address operational inefficiencies and improve port
performance, ultimately benefiting the broader maritime industry and contributing to national
economic development. Hence, the need to examine shippers' choice of cargo destination ports
in West Africa becomes paramount as no cargo shippers globally, and no international trade
in the world