Nigerian ports handled 129.3 million tons of cargo in 2025, a 24.8% increase from 2024, with significant growth in container and transshipment traffic.
Nigerian ports handled 129.3 million tons of cargo in 2025, up from 103.6 million tons in 2024, marking a 24.8 per cent increase, reported Geneva's Ecofin Agency.
Exports accounted for 39 per cent of total traffic, while imports dominated with 59.2 per cent. Transshipment represented 1.8 per cent. Container traffic rose 25.7 per cent to more than 2.1 million TEUs, driven by a 32.8 per cent rise in import containers. Export volumes increased 3.1 per cent, while transshipment surged 205.8 per cent.
Bulk goods remained dominant, accounting for 54.7 per cent of cargo volumes, while containerised freight represented 24 per cent. Lekki Port handled 40.6 per cent of cargo, followed by Onne at 19.1 per cent and Apapa at 16.7 per cent.
Ship calls rose nearly 12 per cent to 4,477, reflecting stronger integration of Nigerian ports into global trade. However, congestion at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports may worsen unless expansion and modernisation investments keep pace with traffic growth.
