Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded a landmark performance in the first quarter of 2026, fueled by the operational impact of the Lekki Deep Sea Port and growing trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has confirmed.
According to the NPA’s Q1 2026 Operational Performance Review, outward laden container traffic jumped by an exceptional 67.6 per cent, rising from 61,332 TEUs in the same period last year to 102,803 TEUs. The surge underscores a sharp improvement in export logistics and terminal efficiency, signaling that Nigerian shippers are increasingly leveraging larger, more competitive vessels calling at the country’s ports.
The strong outbound performance contributed to an overall 11.6 per cent year-on-year increase in total cargo throughput (excluding crude oil terminals), which reached 32.38 million metric tons, up from 29.02 million metric tons in Q1 2025.
Industry analysts attribute the export boom directly to the Lekki Deep Sea Port’s ability to accommodate larger, fuel-efficient vessels, reducing freight costs for Nigerian exporters. This advantage is being amplified as AfCFTA implementation gradually dismantles trade barriers, encouraging higher-value cargo movements from Nigeria to regional and global markets.
“This is not a marginal gain; it is a structural shift,” said a Lagos-based maritime analyst who requested anonymity. “The combination of deeper berths at Lekki and continental free trade incentives means Nigerian exports are finally becoming competitive on unit cost. We are seeing cargo that once transshipped through Lomé or Cotonou now moving directly from Nigerian quays.”
The NPA report also revealed that outward cargo traffic—covering all commodity types—surged by 23.7 per cent to 14.13 million metric tons, reinforcing the picture of stronger export competitiveness and deeper integration into regional supply chains.
Beyond containers, vehicle traffic emerged as another major growth driver, with total units handled rising sharply by 67 per cent to 58,870 vehicles, compared to 35,262 units in Q1 2025. Transshipment container activity also climbed 83.1 per cent, a development analysts say proves Nigeria is beginning to capture regional cargo flows that historically bypassed its ports.
NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho, speaking recently at an industry forum in Lagos, stressed that Nigeria’s ports must evolve beyond traditional limitations if the country hopes to dominate in a rapidly integrating African market.
“The time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria’s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources,” Dantsoho said. “Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth.”
The Q1 performance adds weight to ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, including the $1 billion overhaul of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, digitalisation through the National Single Window platform, and expanded rail and inland dry port investments to ease cargo evacuation.
Despite the explosive outbound growth, Dantsoho recently acknowledged that Nigeria still handles only about 25 per cent of West Africa’s cargo traffic despite accounting for over 60 per cent of the region’s GDP. With four consecutive years without piracy incidents, due largely to the Deep Blue Programme, stakeholders believe the foundation is set for further gains.
“With sustained commitment to these initiatives, Nigeria’s port system will enter a new phase and emerge as a leading maritime logistics hub in Africa,” Dantsoho assured.
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