The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, says that Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded one of its strongest performances in 2025, with total cargo throughput rising by 24.8 per cent.
Presenting the highlights of the NPA’s 2025 Operational Performance Report in Lagos, Dr Dantsoho said that 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 stated that the growth was a major milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s position in regional and global trade.
According to him, 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, while Trans-shipment contributed 1.8 per cent.
Dantsoho noted that 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 and that total container throughput rose by 25.7 per cent to over 2.1 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
He disclosed that 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, while Onne Port followed with 19.1 per cent and 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.
The 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 noted that Lekki and Onne were increasingly attracting larger vessels.
The statement by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the NPA, Mr Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted the NPA boss as saying that overall ship calls rose by nearly 12 per cent to 4,477 vessels, reflecting broad-based growth across operations.
It added that Liquid bulk cargo, including fuel and chemicals, remained dominant at 54.7 per cent, while containerised cargo accounted for 24 per cent.
Dantsoho explained that 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.
GIK/APA