Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port has announced a strategic move to begin transshipping cargo to neighbouring West African countries, marking a new milestone in its quest to become the region’s leading maritime logistics hub. This development is expected to boost intra-African trade and position Nigeria as a central player in regional cargo movement.

The port, which began commercial operations in 2023, is now focusing on redirecting transshipment cargo that previously passed through hubs like Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire—countries that historically served as gateways for cargo destined for Nigeria. With Lekki Port’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, deep draft, and strategic location, it is now poised to reverse that trend and attract traffic across West Africa.


According to Daniel Odibe, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port, the facility is ramping up efforts to achieve a throughput of 500,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) by the fourth quarter of 2025.

“Our current handling capacity is about 20 per cent of the 1.2 million TEUs we are built for. We’re actively pursuing international transshipment, especially across West African markets,” Odibe said during a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday.



Between January and June 2025, Lekki Port processed 222,000 TEUs, a figure the management expects to double by year-end despite prevailing economic headwinds.


Odibe acknowledged that Nigeria’s macroeconomic challenges—particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the depreciation of the naira—have negatively affected cargo imports, leading to a temporary slowdown in port activity.

“These economic shifts affected import volumes, but we’re beginning to see steady improvement,” he said. “With new trade partnerships and increased interest from regional shipping lines, Lekki Port is regaining momentum.”

Despite these setbacks, Lekki Port remains confident that its superior draft depth, modern container-handling equipment, and digitized operations will make it the top choice for carriers and traders within the ECOWAS corridor.


Lekki Port’s pivot toward regional transshipment marks a significant shift from its initial focus on import and export operations. Analysts suggest that this strategy will not only reduce dependency on ports in Lome and Abidjan but also drive economic value through port charges, warehousing, and logistics employment.

Industry observers have noted that by capturing a share of West Africa’s container redistribution market, Lekki Port could become a game changer in reducing transit times and boosting Nigeria’s non-oil revenue generation.

“It’s not just about Nigerian-bound cargo anymore,” a maritime analyst told Daily Trust. “Lekki Port is trying to become West Africa’s Singapore—a central transshipment hub where international cargo is sorted, stored, and redistributed.”



The port’s transshipment ambition aligns with Nigeria’s broader goal of leveraging its infrastructure for AfCFTA-led trade integration. With over 70% of cargo into West Africa historically routed through non-Nigerian ports, Lekki’s success could recapture lost revenue and create thousands of jobs across port operations, trucking, customs services, and maritime insurance.


As Nigeria positions itself as a regional logistics power, stakeholders believe that Lekki Port will play a central role in transforming Lagos into a global maritime city, especially once its adjacent Lagos Free Trade Zone and Dangote Refinery reach full capacity.

With the West African maritime trade space evolving rapidly, Lekki Port’s entry into transshipment is not only timely but potentially transformational for regional commerce.