By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded a historic surge in activity in 2025, with total cargo throughput rising by 24.8 percent to 129.3 million metric tonnes, up from 103.6 million metric tonnes in 2024, according to the 2025 Operational Performance Report released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Tuesday.
The report described the performance as one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history, underscoring the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive and strengthening the country’s position in regional and global trade.
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Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, said the milestone reflects growing competitiveness across Nigeria’s ports and signals a transformative phase for the sector.
While imports continued to dominate overall cargo traffic, the report highlighted steady growth in outward trade. Exports accounted for 39 percent of total cargo throughput, inward traffic represented 59.2 percent, and transshipment contributed 1.8 percent.
The rising export volumes validate government policies aimed at reducing dependence on crude oil and boosting non-oil exports.
Containerised cargo, a key indicator of trade expansion, grew by 25.7 percent to exceed 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
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Export containers rose by 3.1 percent, while import-laden containers surged by 32.8 percent. Notably, transshipment containers recorded a dramatic 205.8 percent increase, reinforcing Nigeria’s emergence as a regional logistics hub.
The report identified Lekki Port as the leading port, accounting for 40.6 percent of the nation’s total cargo throughput. Onne Port followed with 19.1 percent, while Apapa Port handled 16.7 percent.
In addition to volume leadership, Lekki Port attracted 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 Port received ships averaging 33,251 GRT and 36,909 GRT respectively, while Delta Ports handled vessels averaging 17,414 GRT.
Although Tin Can Island Port recorded the highest frequency of ship arrivals at 22.7 percent of total ship calls, the report noted a structural shift, with Lekki and Onne increasingly handling larger, high-value vessels. Overall ship calls rose by nearly 12 percent to 4,477 vessels.
Liquid bulk cargo, including fuel and chemicals, remained dominant at 54.7 percent of total cargo, while containerised cargo accounted for 24 percent.
Analysts said the growing size and sophistication of vessel traffic indicates that Nigeria’s maritime operations are gradually aligning with global shipping standards.
The sharp rise in transshipment cargo, particularly containerised goods destined for other West and Central African ports, positions Nigeria as a strategic regional hub and enhances revenue potential for the NPA.
Describing the development as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem, maritime analysts said export-led growth and increased transshipment reflect the success of reforms aimed at deepening non-oil revenue sources and improving port competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Dantsoho expressed optimism that the next phase of expansion would be driven by the Federal Government-approved port modernisation programme and the implementation of the National Single Window system.
The modernisation project is expected to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure, deepen berths, expand cargo-handling capacity, and deploy advanced digital solutions to improve vessel turnaround time and operational efficiency across the country’s port network.
