Phytosanitary Risk Assessment of Imported Planting Materials at Apapa Port, Lagos State, South West Nigeria

International trade in planting materials is a primary pathway for the introduction of exotic plant pathogens, and seaport border inspection points serve as critical barriers in Nigeria's phytosanitary defence system. Apapa Port in Lagos handles a substantial volume of imported horticultural planting material annually, yet systematic evaluations of phytosanitary risk at this entry point are rarely published. This professional study conducted a phytosanitary risk assessment of planting materials imported through Apapa Port over a 12-month period from January to December 2023. Inspection records were analysed, sample testing was performed on consignments cleared through quarantine channels, and interviews with inspection officers assessed capacity and procedural adherence. Laboratory testing of 85 sampled consignments identified quarantine-significant pathogens in 19 percent of batches, including Xanthomonas fragariae on strawberry runners, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 fragments in banana tissue culture material, and root-knot nematode species in vegetable seedling consignments. Gap analysis revealed inadequate diagnostic laboratory capacity at the port, with 40 percent of samples requiring forwarding to Ibadan-based FIIRO laboratories, extending processing time beyond recommended quarantine holding periods. Staffing shortages were identified as a systemic constraint. The study recommends investment in in-port diagnostic capability, revision of mandatory pre-shipment certification requirements for high-risk commodities, and establishment of a national digital phytosanitary database linked to border inspection records. Keywords: phytosanitary, planting materials, Apapa Port, quarantine, risk assessment.