Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded one of its most remarkable quarterly performances in recent history as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) announced a dramatic rise in cargo handling activities in the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by an unprecedented jump in export volumes.
According to official data released by the authority, total cargo throughput across Nigerian ports climbed to 33.52 million metric tonnes between July and September 2025, representing a 16.2 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2024.
The growth underscores renewed momentum in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem amid ongoing economic reforms and infrastructure upgrades within the port system.
At the centre of this performance was a sharp increase in containerised exports, which industry analysts describe as a turning point for Nigeria’s long-standing trade imbalance.
Export Container Surge Reshapes Nigeria’s Trade Profile
The NPA disclosed that export-laden containers surged by an extraordinary 1,085 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, signalling a major shift in cargo flow dynamics across the country’s seaports.
Operational figures showed that export containers rose to 69,039 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the quarter, compared with just 5,812 TEUs recorded in the same period of 2024.
This remarkable export container surge reflects increasing demand for Nigerian non-oil products and improved logistics support for outbound cargo.
Total container traffic also expanded significantly, rising by 18.9 per cent to 546,931 TEUs, up from 460,038 TEUs a year earlier.
Import-laden containers accounted for 268,713 TEUs, representing a 33.1 per cent increase, while export volumes recorded the strongest growth rate within the segment.
Maritime experts say the export container surge is particularly significant because it also led to a 21.5 per cent decline in empty container movements, indicating better utilisation of container capacity and a healthier balance between imports and exports.
Vessel Traffic and Capacity Strengthen Port Efficiency
Beyond container activity, ship traffic across Nigerian ports also recorded notable growth during the quarter, further highlighting improved operational efficiency.
The NPA reported that the number of vessel calls increased by 8.4 per cent, with 1,074 ships calling at Nigerian ports in Q3 2025, compared with 991 vessels during the same period last year.
In addition, the total gross registered tonnage (GRT) of vessels handled rose by 18 per cent, reaching 42.64 million tonnes, up from 36.13 million tonnes in Q3 2024.
This increase in GRT suggests that Nigerian ports are attracting larger vessels, a development linked to deeper draft capacities, upgraded port infrastructure, and growing confidence among international shipping lines.
A breakdown of ship calls by port location showed that Tincan Island Port led activity with 22.7 per cent of total vessel calls, followed closely by Apapa Port at 22.2 per cent.
Onne Port accounted for 18.9 per cent, while Lekki Deep Sea Port contributed 18.4 per cent. Calabar Port recorded the lowest share at 2.1 per cent, reflecting persistent infrastructure and draft limitations.
Lekki Port Emerges as Growth Powerhouse
In terms of cargo throughput by location, Lekki Port emerged as the dominant growth driver during the quarter, accounting for 46.8 per cent of total cargo handled nationwide.
The deep seaport’s ability to receive large vessels gave it a competitive edge, with data showing that Lekki Port handled ships with an average gross registered tonnage of 57,244, the highest among Nigerian ports.
Onne Port followed with an average of 51,276 GRT, while Apapa and Tincan Island Ports handled vessels averaging 35,556 and 34,400 GRT respectively.
Delta Ports recorded smaller vessel sizes, with an average of 18,677 tonnes, reflecting regional trade patterns and infrastructure constraints.
Industry stakeholders say Lekki Port’s growing prominence is contributing significantly to the export container surge, particularly for agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and solid minerals.
Cargo Composition Reflects Export-Led Momentum
Further analysis of cargo types handled during the quarter revealed that liquid bulk cargo dominated throughput, accounting for 53.8 per cent of total volume.
Containerised cargo followed at 26.6 per cent, underscoring the growing relevance of container trade in Nigeria’s maritime economy.
Dry bulk cargo contributed 11.3 per cent, while general cargo accounted for 8.2 per cent of total throughput.
The rising share of containerised exports is widely seen as a positive signal for value-added trade and diversification away from crude oil dependence.
NPA Attributes Growth to Reforms and Digitalisation
Commenting on the figures, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, said the strong Q3 performance reflects the impact of the Federal Government’s export-oriented economic policies and sustained investments in port efficiency.
He explained that ongoing port modernisation initiatives, including the deployment of export processing terminals, expansion of digital port systems, and the optimisation of the electronic truck call-up platform, have helped reduce congestion and turnaround time.
According to Dantsoho, these measures have positioned Nigerian ports to play a more strategic role in regional and global trade, while supporting the export container surge recorded during the quarter.
Outlook for Nigeria’s Maritime Trade
The sustained rise in export container volumes suggests that Nigeria’s ports may be entering a new phase of growth driven by non-oil exports and improved logistics coordination.
Analysts believe that if reforms are maintained and infrastructure gaps addressed, Nigeria could consolidate its position as a major maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
However, stakeholders caution that sustaining the export container surge will require continued investment in rail connectivity, inland dry ports, customs automation, and port security to ensure competitiveness and resilience.
As trade volumes expand and shipping lines deploy larger vessels, the third-quarter performance may serve as a benchmark for Nigeria’s maritime ambitions in the years ahead.
