₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s Ports Achieve Historic Growth in 2025, Led by Lekki Port Handling 40.6% of Cargo

Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded a landmark performance in 2025, driven by surging cargo throughput, rising container traffic, and expanding exports, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) 2025 Operational Performance Report. Total cargo throughput jumped 24.8 percent, rising from about 103.6 million metric tons in 2024 to over 129.3 million metric tons last year, marking one of the most significant annual increases in the nation’s maritime history.

NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, described the growth as a milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global trade. While imports remain the largest component of cargo traffic at 59.2 percent, exports accounted for 39 percent, reflecting the Federal Government’s push to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on crude oil. Transshipment contributed 1.8 percent of total cargo.

Containerized cargo, a key measure of export trade activity, rose 25.7 percent to surpass 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Exports increased by 3.1 percent, imports surged 32.8 percent, and transshipment containers skyrocketed by 205.8 percent, positioning Nigeria as a growing logistics hub for West and Central Africa.

Lekki Port led national cargo throughput, handling 40.6 percent of total volumes, followed by Onne Port at 19.1 percent and Apapa Port at 16.7 percent. Lekki also received the largest vessels, averaging 55,712 GRT, compared with Onne’s 53,022 GRT. Tin Can Island Port saw the highest frequency of ship calls at 22.7 percent, but Lekki and Onne are increasingly hosting the sector’s largest vessels.

Overall ship calls rose nearly 12 percent to 4,477 vessels. Liquid bulk remained the dominant commodity at 54.7 percent, while containerized cargo accounted for 24 percent. Analysts note that the increasing size and sophistication of vessel traffic reflect a sector aligning more closely with global shipping standards.

The report also emphasized the growing role of transshipment cargo, especially containerized goods destined for other African ports, highlighting Nigeria’s emergence as a regional hub and boosting revenue for the NPA.

“The growth in exports and transshipment underscores the success of reforms aimed at reducing oil dependence while enhancing Nigerian ports’ competitiveness,” maritime analysts said.

Looking ahead, Dantsoho expressed confidence that ongoing port modernization and the National Single Window system will further drive growth. Planned upgrades include berth deepening, quay rehabilitation, expanded cargo-handling capacity, and advanced digital solutions to improve vessel turnaround times, safety, and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

The 2025 NPA report positions Lekki Port and the broader port network as central to Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy, regional trade prominence, and integration into global supply chains.

https://applesbite.com/nigerias-ports-achieve-historic-growth-in-2025-led-by-lekki-port-handling-40-6-of-cargo/

All sectors are out performing themselves under this government

We need one port in Alaigbo!

That one at Onne too far!

Onne port ..I'm glad we need to focus our attention there only.

Out own is our own.

There are other ports in other States in this country. They also deserve a chance to grow.

Hopefully the government go for expansion and decongest Lagos ports

There are too many commercial activities around that are lately

Lekki Port, a state government led initiative, where they invited Chinese investors to build and operate the port is now Nigeria number one port. Beating Apapa and Tin Can island and Onne Port. Tomorrow some Zombies will blame the federal government for not building them a port. Akwa Ibom has been shouting Ibom port for 20yrs now yet nothing serious is happening there.

Why don't they use port Harcourt port

Bobby4090:
Lekki Port, a state government led initiative, where they invited Chinese investors to build and operate the port is now Nigeria number one port. Beating Apapa and Tin Can island and Onne Port. Tomorrow some Zombies will blame the federal government for not building them a port. Akwa Ibom has been shouting Ibom port for 20yrs now yet nothing serious is happening there.

It's all politics my brother, only God will save us

Lies, I don't believe this, Nothing is growing in Nigeria as long as Tinubu remains there.
All hands must be on deck to throw him overboard

And one obidient was telling me the LFZ was a waste and was Bourne out of purposeless vision.....just to rubbish tinubu's achievement and portray obi as better with no visible legacy left in his 8 years as gov except for the brewery which soludo has called zero investments.

Apcshit:
It's all politics my brother, only God will save us

What is political about it?

Apcshit:
Why don't they use port Harcourt port

Is onne in oyo or ogun state? Thought you people said fg was deliberately killing eastern ports to benefit Lagos only.....now here is one of your ridiculous lies falling flat with verifiable facts.

JikSneh:
Lies, I don't believe this, Nothing is growing in Nigeria as long as Tinubu remains there.
All hands must be on deck to throw him overboard

Your really is not the ther people’s reality.

You can remain stagnant as you are. Nobody cares.

Nword22:
Onne port ..I'm glad we need to focus our attention there only.

Out own is our own.

Yes.

Our South South port is our South South port.

Lekki deep sea port from Lekki free trade zone. The brain child of President tinubu when he was governor.

Meanwhile, one governor like that built a beer factory and saved other state money in a bank he owns. This reminds me of the parable of talent in the Bible

Slytiger:
Lekki deep sea port from Lekki free trade zone. The brain child of President tinubu when he was governor.

Meanwhile, one governor like that built a beer factory and saved other state money in a bank he owns. This reminds me of the parable of talent in the Bible

TINUBU HAS A LEGACY ETCHED IN HISTORY

AntiChristian:
We need one port in Alaigbo!

That one at Onne too far!

No kne is stopping you for owing a port. Let your billionaires build port for you, Lekki port is not FG, it is State and private own.

This is not noticed in the Delta Ports

YosemiteDan:
There are other ports in other States in this country.

They also deserve a chance to grow.

What is stopping the senators and representatives from these other states from working on getting what you say they deserve

floss:
Hopefully the government go for expansion and decongest Lagos ports

Does government at the federal level, include your own senator and representative

Lagos State economy will continue to rise. Infact Dangote is planning to have his own private seaport too.

Bobby4090:
Lekki Port, a state government led initiative, where they invited Chinese investors to build and operate the port is now Nigeria number one port. Beating Apapa and Tin Can island and Onne Port. Tomorrow some Zombies will blame the federal government for not building them a port. Akwa Ibom has been shouting Ibom port for 20yrs now yet nothing serious is happening there.

it's the governor that we should blame and not the fg

AnonPoet:
Nigeria’s Ports Achieve Historic Growth in 2025, Led by Lekki Port Handling 40.6% of Cargo



https://applesbite.com/nigerias-ports-achieve-historic-growth-in-2025-led-by-lekki-port-handling-40-6-of-cargo/

Apc has achieved in 10 years what pdp could not do in 16 years ,asides power and insecurity, only a dafty will argue that apc has not transformed nigeria infrastructure wise and policy wise .
This article is a testament to how to diversify a country's resources without too much noise .

AnonPoet:
Nigeria’s Ports Achieve Historic Growth in 2025, Led by Lekki Port Handling 40.6% of Cargo

https://applesbite.com/nigerias-ports-achieve-historic-growth-in-2025-led-by-lekki-port-handling-40-6-of-cargo/

How is this not another meaningless propaganda story like many other stories to cover up clueless city boy’s failures?

Failure to crash the dollar rate despite $3.3 billion Afreximbank SPV loan, specifically to defend the Naira. Loan that is secured by future oil revenues and arranged through Elumelu’s UBA bank at the ridiculous rate of 11.85%.

benardtotti:
Apc has achieved in 10 years what pdp could not do in 16 years ,asides power and insecurity, only a dafty will argue that apc has not transformed nigeria infrastructure wise and policy wise .

This article is a testament to how to diversify a country's resources without too much noise .

Only a dafty will argue with city boy’s finance minister and even argue with international financial institutions. Not so

thisweekng:
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Chief Olawale Edun has said the last time Nigeria’s economy looked stable was about a decade ago.

He made this statement during his maiden press conference as Minister of Finance where he outlined President Bola Tinubu’s vision, agenda and strategy for the economy.

He said, “I think as we all know, we are not where we should be. The economy is barely growing above the rate of population growth.

“But it was not always so, and I think in trying to look at the way forward, if we now have a situation of slow growth, double-digit inflation, weak/depreciating exchange rate, as well as security concerns that are resulting in an economy that is not growing and not taking Nigerians out of poverty.

“If we think back to the last time when the economy was stable- when it was growing, when inflation was low, and the interest rate was affordable, that period was about a decade ago. Growth was about 6% in 2013 and 2014.”
Private sector to drive the economy

https://nairametrics.com/2023/09/01/the-last-time-nigerias-economy-was-stable-was-about-a-decade-ago-wale-edun/

Ijaya123:
What is political about it?

My brother it's all politics

Lithiumite:
Is onne in oyo or ogun state? Thought you people said fg was deliberately killing eastern ports to benefit Lagos only.....now here is one of your ridiculous lies falling flat with verifiable facts.

My brother they direct everything to lagos

Apcshit:
My brother they direct everything to lagos

Then why is onne still getting any volume at all?