Nigeria’s ports witnessed a major boost in trade activities in the third quarter of 2025, as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recorded a dramatic 1,085 per cent increase in export-laden containers. During the period, total cargo throughput rose to 33.52 million metric tonnes, reflecting growing momentum across the nation’s seaports.
Operational figures released by the Authority showed that overall cargo handled in Q3 2025 increased by 16.2 per cent compared to the 28.84 million metric tonnes recorded in the same quarter of 2024. This rise points to heightened commercial activity and stronger confidence in Nigeria’s port operations.
Container handling played a key role in the improved performance. Total container traffic climbed by 18.9 per cent to 546,931 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), up from 460,038 TEUs a year earlier. Import-laden containers rose by 33.1 per cent to 268,713 TEUs, while export-laden containers jumped sharply from just 5,812 TEUs in Q3 2024 to 69,039 TEUs in 2025.
The surge in export containers also led to a 21.5 per cent reduction in empty container movements, indicating a healthier balance between imports and exports. This trend suggests increasing activity in Nigeria’s non-oil export sector and improved utilisation of port infrastructure.
Ship traffic equally recorded solid growth during the quarter. Vessel calls increased by 8.4 per cent to 1,074 ships, while total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) rose by 18 per cent to 42.64 million, showing that larger vessels are increasingly calling at Nigerian ports.
A breakdown by location showed Tin Can Island Port handling the highest share of vessel calls at 22.7 per cent, followed closely by Apapa Port at 22.2 per cent. Onne and Lekki ports accounted for 18.9 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively, while Calabar Port recorded 2.1 per cent.
In terms of vessel size, Lekki Port received the largest ships, with an average GRT of 57,244, ahead of Onne Port at 51,276 GRT. Apapa and Tin Can Island ports handled moderately sized vessels, while Delta Ports recorded the smallest average vessel size.
Cargo throughput analysis revealed that Lekki Port was the biggest growth driver, accounting for 46.8 per cent of total cargo handled in Q3 2025. Onne Port followed with 17 per cent, while Apapa and Tin Can Island ports contributed 15.1 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Calabar Port recorded the lowest share.
Liquid bulk cargo dominated port activities, accounting for 53.8 per cent of total throughput, followed by containerised cargo at 26.6 per cent. Dry bulk and other general cargo made up the remaining share.
Reacting to the performance, NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, attributed the strong results to the Federal Government’s export-focused economic reforms and growing investor confidence. He said the figures reflect improved efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Dantsoho also highlighted ongoing port modernisation projects, the use of export processing terminals and digital tools such as the electronic truck call-up system, noting that these initiatives have reduced congestion and improved turnaround time. Industry analysts say the Q3 performance underscores the growing role of the maritime sector in Nigeria’s non-oil export drive and broader economic diversification efforts.
