Lagos: The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, says Nigeria’s maritime sector saw cargo throughput rise 24.8 per cent in 2025. Dantsoho presented highlights of the NPA’s 2025 Operational Performance Report in Lagos, in a statement issued by the authority’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr Ikechukwu Onyemekara.
The report shows that total cargo throughput grew from 103.6 million metric tonnes in 2024 to over 129.3 million metric tonnes in 2025, marking one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history.
The NPA boss said factors such as increased government support for exports, improved port infrastructure, and new trade policies contributed to the growth, marking a major milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s position in regional and global trade.
He noted that imports still make up the larger share of cargo traffic, but exports continue to gain ground, reflecting the Federal Government’s push for economic diversification.
Exports made up 39 per cent of total cargo throughput, while imports accounted for 59.2 per cent. Trans-shipment contributed 1.8 per cent.
Dantsoho said the rise in export volumes was driven by targeted government incentives, expanded trade agreements, and investments in non-oil sectors, which validate government efforts to reduce dependence on crude oil and promote non-oil exports.
Container traffic, a key indicator of trade activity, also recorded strong growth.
Total container throughput rose by 25.7 per cent to over 2.1 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Import-laden containers increased by 32.8 per cent, while export containers grew by 3.1 per cent.
He also reported a sharp 205.8 per cent increase in trans-shipment containers, describing this growth as evidence of Nigeria’s expanding role as a regional logistics hub serving West and Central Africa.
In terms of port performance, Lekki Port emerged as the leading port, handling 40.6 per cent of the nation’s total cargo throughput.
Onne Port followed with 19.1 per cent, while Apapa Port accounted for 16.7 per cent.
Lekki Port also received the largest vessels, with an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712, slightly ahead of Onne Port at 53,022 GRT.
Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports handled vessels averaging 33,251 GRT and 36,909 GRT, respectively, while Delta Ports recorded an average of 17,414 GRT.
Although Tin Can Island Port recorded the highest number of ship arrivals, accounting for 22.7 per cent of total ship calls, Dantsoho observed that Lekki and Onne are increasingly attracting larger vessels.
Overall ship calls rose by nearly 12 per cent to 4,477 vessels, reflecting broad-based growth across operations.
Liquid bulk cargo, including fuel and chemicals, remained dominant at 54.7 per cent, while containerised cargo accounted for 24 per cent.
Dantosho stated that the increasing vessel size and container traffic show that Nigeria’s ports are gradually aligning with global shipping standards.
He described the 2025 performance as a transformative phase for the maritime industry, which was driven by infrastructure upgrades, policy reforms, and increased port capacity, alongside export growth and rising container volumes.
He expressed confidence that growth will continue with port modernisation and the National Single Window system.
He said the modernisation project would upgrade ageing infrastructure, deepen berths, rehabilitate quays, expand cargo-handling capacity and deploy advanced digital solutions across the port network.
He expects the initiative to reduce vessel turnaround time, cut cargo dwell time, improve safety and significantly enhance operational efficiency across all terminals.
