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Nigeria’s maritime sector has received a major boost as the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025 ranked Tin Can Island Port and Apapa Port among the world’s 20 most improved container ports.
The recognition highlights the progress recorded under the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) led by its Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as efforts to improve operational efficiency and modernise port infrastructure continue to yield results.
According to the CPPI 2025 report, jointly published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, Tin Can Island Port ranked 10th globally among ports with the highest performance improvements between 2020 and 2025, while Apapa Port placed 12th.
The CPPI is a globally recognised benchmark that measures port efficiency based on the total time container vessels spend in port, enabling comparisons across ports and tracking performance improvements over time.
The latest recognition comes amid Nigeria’s sustained trade surplus performance, with the National Bureau of Statistics reporting a trade surplus of N7.54 trillion in the first quarter of 2026. The NPA said its efforts to improve port operations have contributed significantly to facilitating trade and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.
Reacting to the development, Dr. Dantsoho attributed the achievement to ongoing reforms and investments in port infrastructure and equipment.
“With the investor-friendliness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu providing the gravitas needed for increased investment to implement our port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive, coupled with the unflinching support from the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, we have all it takes to advance the fortunes of trade and boost the national economy,” he said.
The World Bank noted that the CPPI serves as a diagnostic tool for governments, port authorities and industry stakeholders to identify operational gaps and improve efficiency, with vessel turnaround time remaining a critical indicator of port performance and supply chain reliability.
Industry observers say the improved ranking of Tin Can and Apapa ports reflects ongoing efforts to modernise Nigeria’s port system, streamline operations and strengthen the country’s position as a key maritime hub in West Africa.
