Digging a little deeper:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Inward cargo<\/strong>\u00a0(goods coming into the country) made up 56.8% of everything handled, growing 7.7%.<\/li>\n
- Outward cargo<\/strong>\u00a0(exports leaving Nigeria) grew much faster \u2014 up 22% \u2014 which points to stronger export activity.<\/li>\n
- Transshipment cargo<\/strong>\u00a0(goods passing through Nigeria to other countries) added about 488,000 metric tonnes, roughly 1.4% of the total.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
More ships came calling.<\/strong>\u00a0The number of ocean-going vessels that completed their calls grew from 1,050 to 1,201, an increase of 14.4%.<\/p>\n
Containers are moving too.<\/strong>\u00a0Container traffic climbed 11.3% to about 602,000 TEUs (the standard measure for containers). Inward containers rose 6.3%, and perhaps most notably, transshipment containers jumped from zero to over 29,000 TEUs \u2014 a sign that Nigerian ports are becoming a stopover point for regional trade.<\/p>\n
More vehicles rolled in.<\/strong>\u00a0Vehicle traffic grew 18.3%, from 37,306 to 44,147 units. The NPA links this to better exchange-rate stability supporting automobile imports.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n
NPA’s Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, says the growth shows Nigerian seaports can genuinely compete and keep trade flowing. But there’s a bigger story here: the rise in transshipment cargo suggests Nigeria is quietly becoming a regional hub for West African trade \u2014 not just a destination for goods.<\/p>\n
What’s next?<\/h2>\n
The NPA isn’t slowing down. Their 2026 priorities include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Modernising older ports.<\/strong>\u00a0Apapa is nearly 100 years old and Tin Can Island over 50, so both badly need an upgrade.<\/li>\n
- Supporting new deep-sea ports<\/strong>\u00a0at Lekki and Badagry to handle bigger vessels.<\/li>\n
- Revitalising the Eastern Ports<\/strong>\u00a0to ease congestion around Lagos.<\/li>\n
- Going digital.<\/strong>\u00a0A Port Community System and the National Single Window (live since early 2026) aim to cut manual paperwork and speed up operations.<\/li>\n
- Boosting security<\/strong>\u00a0for round-the-clock work and coordinating more closely with customs to reduce bottlenecks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The expected payoff is straightforward: faster turnaround, lower logistics costs, bigger trade volumes, and a stronger position for Nigeria in West African commerce.<\/p>\n
The takeaway? The ports sector is showing real momentum. Whether the modernisation plans deliver on their promise will be worth watching in the quarters ahead.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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- Supporting new deep-sea ports<\/strong>\u00a0at Lekki and Badagry to handle bigger vessels.<\/li>\n
- Outward cargo<\/strong>\u00a0(exports leaving Nigeria) grew much faster \u2014 up 22% \u2014 which points to stronger export activity.<\/li>\n
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