The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has posted one of its strongest quarterly performances in recent years, recording a massive 1,085 per cent increase in export-laden containers in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, as total cargo throughput rose to 33.52 million metric tonnes.
Operational figures released by the Authority showed that cargo handled across Nigerian ports during the period increased by 16.2 per cent, compared with the 28.84 million metric tonnes recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024, reflecting growing trade activities nationwide.
Container operations played a key role in the improved performance. Total container traffic rose by 18.9 per cent to 546,931 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), up from 460,038 TEUs in Q3 2024. Import-laden containers increased by 33.1 per cent to 268,713 TEUs, while export-laden containers surged dramatically to 69,039 TEUs from just 5,812 TEUs in the same period last year.
The sharp rise in export containers also led to a 21.5 per cent decline in empty container movements, signalling a better balance between imports and exports and pointing to growing momentum in non-oil export activities.
Ship traffic equally recorded notable growth. Vessel calls increased by 8.4 per cent to 1,074 ships, compared with 991 vessels in Q3 2024, while total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) rose by 18 per cent to 42.64 million, indicating an increase in the size of vessels calling at Nigerian ports.
A breakdown of vessel calls showed that Tin Can Island Port accounted for the highest share at 22.7 per cent, followed by Apapa Port with 22.2 per cent. Onne and Lekki ports recorded 18.9 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively, while Calabar Port accounted for 2.1 per cent.
In terms of vessel size, Lekki Port received the largest ships, with an average GRT of 57,244, followed by Onne Port at 51,276 GRT. Apapa and Tin Can Island ports handled vessels with average GRTs of 35,556 and 34,400 respectively, while Delta Ports recorded an average of 18,677 tonnes.
Further analysis of cargo throughput by port showed that Lekki Port emerged as the dominant 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.
By cargo type, liquid bulk cargo accounted for the largest portion at 53.8 per cent, followed by containerised cargo at 26.6 per cent. Dry bulk cargo and other general cargo accounted for 11.3 per cent and 8.2 per cent respectively.
Commenting on the performance, Managing Director of NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, attributed the strong results to the Federal Government’s export-driven economic reforms and rising investor confidence. He said the figures reflected improved operational efficiency across all pilotage districts.
Dantsoho added that ongoing port modernisation initiatives, deployment of export processing terminals, and the expansion of digital platforms such as the electronic truck call-up system had reduced congestion, improved turnaround time, and strengthened the capacity of Nigerian ports to play a bigger role in regional trade.
Industry analysts say the Q3 performance underscores the growing contribution of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s non-oil export drive, in line with the country’s broader economic diversification agenda.
