Lagos ports expect 43 vessels as import activities rise

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that 43 vessels carrying petroleum products, food supplies and other cargoes are expected to arrive at Apapa Port, Lekki Deep Sea Port and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos between May 26 and June 6, signalling sustained import and trading activities at the nation’s busiest maritime hubs. NPA’s […]

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that 43 vessels carrying petroleum products, food supplies and other cargoes are expected to arrive at Apapa Port, Lekki Deep Sea Port and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos between May 26 and June 6, signalling sustained import and trading activities at the nation’s busiest maritime hubs.

NPA’s Daily Shipping Position disclosed the incoming vessels comprise container ships and tankers transporting a wide range of commodities critical to Nigeria’s economy and industrial operations.

The NPA disclosed that eight of the vessels are laden with containers conveying assorted goods, while 35 others are expected with products including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, bulk wheat, fresh fish, gasoline and general cargo.

NPA in its weekly bulletin further stated that 11 of the ships had already arrived at the ports and were awaiting berth allocation.

The vessels are carrying consignments such as bulk fertiliser, crude oil, condensate, petrol, diesel, bulk salt and containerised cargo.

In addition, 21 vessels are currently discharging cargoes at the three ports. The products being offloaded include bulk sugar, wheat, millet, urea, gypsum, petrol, aviation fuel, trucks and diesel. Meanwhile, stakeholders have explained that the continued influx of vessels laden with food items and petroleum products underscores Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports to meet domestic consumption and industrial needs.

They claimed that despite being a major crude oil producer and possessing vast agricultural potential, the country still relies significantly on imported refined petroleum products, wheat, sugar, fish and other essential commodities due to inadequate local refining capacity, low agricultural productivity, infrastructure gaps and foreign exchange challenges.

In the petroleum sector, Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel has persisted for years because of the poor performance of state-owned refineries, forcing marketers to rely on imports to bridge supply shortages. Similarly, large volumes of wheat, sugar and fish imports reflect the inability of local production to satisfy growing demand driven by population growth and urbanisation.

Stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger investment in domestic refining, agriculture, storage facilities and transport infrastructure to reduce import dependence, improve food and energy security and strengthen the Naira.