The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, says Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded one of its strongest performances in 2025, with total cargo throughput rising by 24.8 per cent.

Mr Dantsoho disclosed this in Lagos while presenting highlights of the NPA’s 2025 Operational Performance Report, in a statement issued by the authority’s general manager, corporate and strategic communications, Ikechukwu Onyemekara.

According to the report, total cargo throughput increased from 103.6 million metric tonnes in 2024 to over 129.3 million metric tonnes in 2025, one of the most significant annual jumps in Nigeria’s maritime history.

The NPA boss said the growth was a major milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s position in regional and global trade.

He said imports still accounted for the larger share of cargo traffic, but exports continued 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.

Mr Dantsoho said the rise in export volumes validates 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 highlighted a sharp 205.8 per cent increase in trans-shipment containers, describing it as evidence of Nigeria’s growing role as a regional logistics hub serving West and Central Africa.

On 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, Mr Dantsoho noted that Lekki and Onne were 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.

Mr Dantsoho said the increasing size of vessels and growth in container traffic showed that Nigeria’s ports were gradually aligning with global shipping standards.

He described the 2025 performance as a transformative phase for the maritime industry, driven by export growth, rising container volumes and improved port capacity.

The NPA boss expressed confidence that the next phase of growth would be powered by the federal government’s approved port modernisation programme and the implementation of 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.

According to him, the initiative is expected to reduce vessel turnaround time, cut cargo dwell time, improve safety and significantly enhance operational efficiency across all terminals. 

(NAN)