By Godwin Obi
Nigeria’s maritime sector delivered one of its strongest performances in history in 2025, posting record-breaking cargo volumes and a surge in export activity that signals growing momentum in the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive.
According to the 2025 Operational Performance Report released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), total cargo throughput jumped by 24.8 percent — rising from 103.6 million metric tons in 2024 to over 129.3 million metric tons in 2025. The dramatic increase marks one of the most significant annual expansions ever recorded in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, described the growth as a historic milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s position as a competitive force in regional and global trade.
Although imports still account for the larger share of cargo traffic, the report highlights steady growth in outward trade, with exports contributing 39 percent of total throughput. Inward cargo represented 59.2 percent, while transshipment accounted for 1.8 percent. Analysts say the rising export volumes validate policy reforms aimed at reducing reliance on crude oil and expanding non-oil revenue streams.
Container traffic — a key barometer of trade sophistication — recorded equally impressive gains. Total container throughput rose by 25.7 percent, exceeding 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Export containers grew by 3.1 percent, while import-laden containers surged by 32.8 percent. Most striking was a 205.8 percent leap in transshipment containers, underscoring Nigeria’s expanding role as a logistics hub for West and Central Africa.
The report identifies Lekki Deep Sea Port as the nation’s leading port, handling 40.6 percent of total cargo throughput. Onne Port followed with 19.1 percent, while Apapa Port accounted for 16.7 percent.
Beyond volume, Lekki also attracted the largest vessels, receiving ships with an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712 — slightly ahead of Onne’s 53,022 GRT. Apapa and Tin Can Island Port handled vessels averaging 33,251 GRT and 36,909 GRT respectively, while Delta Ports received ships averaging 17,414 GRT.
While Tin Can Island Port recorded the highest number of ship calls, accounting for 22.7 percent of total arrivals, Lekki and Onne increasingly welcomed larger “heavyweight” vessels — a development that enhances Nigeria’s capacity to handle high-value and high-volume cargo.
Overall ship calls rose by nearly 12 percent to 4,477 vessels in 2025, reflecting broad-based expansion across operational indices. Liquid bulk cargo, including petroleum products and chemicals, remained dominant at 54.7 percent of total throughput, while containerized cargo accounted for 24 percent.
Maritime analysts say the sharp rise in transshipment traffic positions Nigeria as a strategic redistribution centre for cargo bound for neighbouring countries. The 205.8 percent surge in transshipment containers is expected to boost port revenues and attract more global shipping lines to Nigerian waters.
The report paints a picture of structural transformation within the maritime sector — not just in volume but in cargo composition and vessel profile. Export-led growth, container expansion and the dominance of Lekki Port signal a shift toward a more diversified and globally integrated trade ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Dantsoho expressed confidence that the next growth phase will be powered by the Federal Government’s port modernisation programme and the rollout of the National Single Window system.
The modernisation initiative aims to overhaul ageing infrastructure, deepen berths, rehabilitate quays, expand cargo-handling capacity and deploy advanced digital platforms across the nation’s ports. The reforms are expected to reduce vessel turnaround time, cut cargo dwell time and significantly improve efficiency.
With record volumes, bigger ships and rising export momentum, Nigeria’s ports are rapidly evolving from oil-dependent gateways into diversified engines of trade — anchoring the country’s broader economic ambitions on the global stage.
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2026-03-02