THE increase of Nigerian port container throughput has increased in the first quarter by 5.7 per cent to 210,057 TEU laden due to investments by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and terminal operators, said the NPA general manager Michael Ajayi.

Vessel traffic surged by 42 per cent to 63,992 units compared to previous year's 45,077 while empty container throughput rose by 18.9 per cent to 161,107 TEU year on year.

According to NPA. the concession programme starting in 2006 led to a massive marine rehabilitation of port infrastructure which involved laying of channel marker buoys, maintenance dredging and the removal of 24 wrecks along the Lagos Channels.

"These efforts have attracted more vessels as safe and secure navigation has been guaranteed," said NPA managing director Omar Suleiman, reported Nigeria's Business Hallmark, and will continue to attract larger vessels.

Investment from terminal operators include the Port and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) of US$100 million in infrastructure development and APM Terminals invested about $200 million in upgrading and modernising the Apapa Container Terminal in the last six years.