How Nigerian ports handled 1,092 ocean-going vessels in Q1 2026 — Report

Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded strong operational growth in the first quarter of 2026 as the nation’s ports handled 1,092 ocean-going vessels with cargo throughput rising significantly amid ongoing infrastructure upgrades and expanding export activities across the country. The latest operational report released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) showed that despite a slight decline in […]

Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded strong operational growth in the first quarter of 2026 as the nation’s ports handled 1,092 ocean-going vessels with cargo throughput rising significantly amid ongoing infrastructure upgrades and expanding export activities across the country.

The latest operational report released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) showed that despite a slight decline in vessel calls compared to the corresponding period of 2025, Nigerian ports processed larger vessels carrying higher cargo volumes, reflecting improving port capacity, stronger trade activities and increasing investor confidence in the maritime sector.

Daily Trust reports that the federal government recently secured a deal worth  £746 million (about N1 trillion) with the UK Export Finance for the upgrade of Lagos ports in an effort to upgrade infrastructures and position the ports to benefit maximally from the expanding trading activities.

The report showed that Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), which measures vessel carrying capacity, rose sharply by 19.5 per cent to 46.75 million GRT in Q1 2026 from 39.11 million GRT recorded during the same period in 2025.

Although vessel traffic declined marginally from 1,102 vessels in Q1 2025 to 1,092 vessels in Q1 2026, the sharp increase in vessel tonnage indicates that Nigerian ports are increasingly attracting larger and more efficient vessels capable of transporting higher cargo volumes.

Industry stakeholders say the development reflects gradual improvements in port infrastructure, cargo handling capacity and operational efficiency under the current administration.

The strong performance also highlights Nigeria’s growing ambition to position itself as a major maritime and logistics hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where regional competition for cargo traffic is expected to intensify in the coming years.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, recently warned that Nigeria risks losing regional cargo opportunities to neighbouring countries if its ports fail to compete effectively on speed, efficiency and reliability.

According to him, the maritime sector remains one of the country’s most strategic economic assets capable of driving economic growth, industrial development and regional trade integration if properly harnessed.

“The time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria’s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources. Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth,” Dantsoho said at a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos.

Despite accounting for over 60 per cent of West Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Nigeria currently handles only about 25 per cent of the region’s cargo traffic, a situation maritime authorities believe can be reversed through sustained reforms and infrastructure investments.

Under AfCFTA, African ports are expected to compete aggressively for regional cargo dominance, making operational efficiency and infrastructure capacity increasingly important.

One of the key contributors to the rising vessel capacity is the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which has significantly expanded Nigeria’s ability to receive larger ocean-going vessels with deeper drafts.

The development aligns with global maritime trends where ports are increasingly measured not by the number of ships they receive, but by their ability to accommodate bigger vessels, reduce turnaround time and process cargo more efficiently.

The report also revealed that cargo throughput across Nigerian ports recorded significant growth during the quarter.

Total cargo throughput excluding crude oil terminals rose by 11.6 per cent to 32.38 million metric tons in Q1 2026 compared to 29.02 million metric tons recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.

The increase was driven by rising import and export activities, stronger industrial demand and improving port productivity across the country.

Import cargo traffic increased moderately by 3.3 per cent to 18.11 million metric tons, reflecting sustained demand for industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs, raw materials and consumer goods.

However, export cargo movement recorded much stronger growth during the period.

According to the report, outward cargo traffic surged by 23.7 per cent to 14.13 million metric tons in Q1 2026, highlighting improving export competitiveness and stronger participation in regional and international supply chains.

The increase in exports is considered particularly important for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda as the country seeks to reduce dependence on crude oil revenues and expand non-oil exports.

 

Agriculture as new oil?

The report attributed the growth partly to rising agricultural and industrial production, improved export logistics and ongoing trade facilitation measures introduced by the Federal Government.

Container operations during the quarter also reflected important changes within Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

Although total container traffic remained relatively stable at 541,229 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), export container. movement recorded exceptional growth.

Outward laden container traffic rose sharply from 61,332 TEUs recorded in Q1 2025 to 102,803 TEUs in Q1 2026, representing a massive increase of 67.6 per cent.

Compared to the previous quarter, outbound container traffic more than doubled, underscoring rapid expansion in containerised export activities.

As a result, the surge in export container traffic is viewed as a positive sign that Nigeria’s non-oil export economy is gradually strengthening.

Another major operational improvement recorded during the quarter was the sharp decline in empty container traffic, which dropped by 44.7 per cent.

Inward laden container traffic also rose by 5.2 per cent during the period, reflecting continued import demand across different sectors of the economy.

Vehicle handling activities across Nigerian ports also recorded impressive growth during the quarter.

According to the report, vehicle traffic surged by 67 per cent to 58,870 units in Q1 2026 from 35,262 units handled during the corresponding period in 2025.

Compared with Q4 2025, vehicle traffic increased even more sharply by 76.9 per cent.

The report also highlighted rising transhipment activities, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing role within regional maritime logistics.

Transhipment container traffic increased by 83.1 per cent during the quarter, indicating that Nigerian ports are increasingly being used as redistribution hubs for cargo destined for other West African countries.

Transhipment occurs when cargo arriving at one port is transferred to another vessel for onward shipment to another destination.

As operational efficiency improves, maritime experts believe Nigerian ports could increasingly position themselves as major regional cargo redistribution centres under AfCFTA.

The strong operational performance recorded during the quarter is being supported by ongoing infrastructure modernisation projects across the nation’s ports.

Recently, the Federal Government secured legislative approval for a $1 billion loan requested by President Tinubu for the rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port.

The projects are expected to address decades of infrastructure deficiencies, improve cargo handling efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.

Beyond Lagos, procurement processes are already ongoing for rehabilitation works at Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar ports.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has repeatedly stressed that the ongoing reforms are part of a nationwide maritime development strategy rather than a Lagos-focused initiative.

According to him, the Federal Government is determined to improve connectivity and stimulate economic growth across coastal and inland regions through sustained investments in maritime infrastructure.

New deep seaports are also being developed in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ondo states as part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity and support future trade growth.

Alongside infrastructure upgrades, the Federal Government is aggressively pursuing digitalisation reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving port efficiency.

Dr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) stated that while the Centre acknowledged the economic importance of ongoing upgrades in Lagos ports, there is the need to integrate port decentralisation into National Reform Agenda Amid Lagos-Centric Investments.

“Nigeria’s maritime system remains heavily concentrated in Lagos, which currently accounts for the majority of cargo throughput.

However, this concentration has resulted in: Persistent congestion and logistics inefficiencies. Increased cost of imports and exports. Overstretching of port and road infrastructure. 

“At the same time, strategic ports in: Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar and Onne, without mincing words, remain significantly underutilised due to policy neglect, inadequate infrastructure linkages, and inconsistent investment priorities” he added.