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Nigeria’s maritime sector delivered one of its strongest performances in recent history in 2025, with total ship calls rising by 12 percent to 4,477 vessels, according to the 2025 Operational Performance Report released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The report paints a picture of broad-based expansion across cargo throughput, container traffic, and transshipment volumes while analysts say reinforce the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive.
Total cargo throughput climbed by 24.8 percent, increasing from about 103.6 million metric tons in 2024 to over 129.3 million metric tons in 2025. The growth, described by NPA Managing Director Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history, strengthens the country’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.
While imports still account for the larger share of cargo, exports gained notable ground. Outward trade represented 39 percent of total throughput, compared to 59.2 percent for inward cargo and 1.8 percent for transshipment. The steady rise in export volumes is widely viewed as validation of policies aimed at expanding non-oil exports and reducing reliance on crude oil revenues.
Containerized cargo, a key barometer of trade sophistication, grew by 25.7 percent to exceed 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Import-laden containers surged by 32.8 percent, while export containers rose by 3.1 percent. Most striking was a 205.8 percent jump in transshipment containers, underscoring Nigeria’s increasing relevance as a regional logistics hub serving West and Central Africa.
Port performance data show a shifting operational landscape. Lekki Port led the nation in cargo throughput, handling 40.6 percent of total volumes, followed by Onne Port with 19.1 percent and Apapa Port at 16.7 percent.
Lekki Port also received the largest vessels, recording an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712, slightly ahead of Onne’s 53,022 GRT. Although Tin Can Island Port posted the highest frequency of ship calls at 22.7 percent of total arrivals, Lekki and Onne increasingly attracted larger “heavyweight” vessels, reflecting improved capacity to handle higher-value cargo.
Liquid bulk cargo, including petroleum products and chemicals, remained dominant at 54.7 percent of total volumes, while containerized cargo accounted for 24 percent. The rising scale and sophistication of vessel traffic point to a port system gradually aligning with global shipping standards.
Looking ahead, Dantsoho expressed optimism that growth will accelerate under the Federal Government’s approved port modernization programme and the rollout of the National Single Window platform. The modernization initiative aims to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure, deepen berths, expand cargo-handling capacity, and deploy advanced digital systems to reduce turnaround time and boost efficiency.
With ship calls, cargo volumes, and transshipment traffic all trending upward, the 2025 report positions Nigeria’s port network as a central pillar of the country’s diversification strategy and expanding role in regional trade.
