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\n\u200eNigeria\u2019s maritime sector recorded strong operational growth in the first quarter of 2026, with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) for ocean-going vessels rising by 19.5 per cent to 46.75 million, underscoring the increasing dominance of larger-capacity ships across the nation\u2019s ports amid ongoing reforms targeted at positioning the country as a regional trade hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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\n\u200eAccording to the Q1 2026 Operational Performance Review released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the rise in vessel tonnage signals improved cargo-carrying efficiency and growing confidence among international shipping lines in Nigerian ports.
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\n\u200eThe report noted that the development reflects a strategic shift toward larger and more efficient vessels, driven partly by the operational impact of the Lekki Deep Sea Port and expanding trade demand.
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\n\u200eThe strong performance comes at a time the federal government is intensifying efforts to modernise Nigeria\u2019s port infrastructure, improve cargo handling efficiency and capture a larger share of regional cargo flows under AfCFTA.
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\n\u200eManaging Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, had recently said Nigeria\u2019s ports must evolve beyond traditional limitations if the country hopes to compete effectively in a rapidly integrating African market.
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\n\u200eSpeaking at an industry forum in Lagos, Dantsoho said efficiency, speed, innovation and reliability would determine which countries dominate cargo flows in the new continental trade environment.
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\n\u200e\u201cThe time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria\u2019s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources. Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth,\u201d he said.
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\n\u200eTotal cargo throughput excluding crude oil terminals also posted strong growth during the quarter, increasing by 11.6 per cent year-on-year to 32.38 million metric tons from 29.02 million metric tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
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\n\u200eThe NPA attributed the growth to rising trade volumes, stronger import and export activities, improved port productivity, and sustained demand for port services.
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\n\u200eOne of the strongest performances during the period came from outward cargo traffic, which surged by 23.7 per cent to 14.13 million metric tons, reflecting stronger export competitiveness and deeper integration into regional and global supply chains.
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\n\u200eSimilarly, outward laden container traffic recorded exceptional growth of 67.6 per cent, rising from 61,332 TEUs in Q1 2025 to 102,803 TEUs in Q1 2026, a performance linked to improved export logistics and terminal efficiency.
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\n\u200eVehicle traffic also emerged as a major growth area, with total vehicle units handled rising sharply by 67 per cent to 58,870 units during the quarter, compared to 35,262 units in the same period last year.
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\n\u200eThe report further highlighted an 83.1 per cent increase in transshipment container activity, reinforcing Nigeria\u2019s growing relevance within regional maritime trade and logistics networks.
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\n\u200eIndustry analysts said the increase in transshipment activity is particularly significant because it suggests Nigeria is beginning to attract more regional cargo movement within West Africa, a critical objective as AfCFTA gradually dismantles trade barriers across the continent.
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\n\u200eThe maritime reforms being pursued under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR have centred on infrastructure upgrades, digitalisation and institutional restructuring aimed at transforming the country into a leading maritime logistics hub in Africa.
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\n\u200eA major component of the reforms is the ongoing rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port following the approval and signing of the MOU for $1 Billion overhaul of longstanding infrastructure deficiencies for improved port competitiveness.
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\n\u200eMinister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has also disclosed that procurement processes are underway for upgrades in Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar ports as part of efforts to ensure balanced port development nationwide.
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\n\u200eIn addition to physical infrastructure upgrades, the government is pushing an aggressive digitalisation agenda through the deployment of the Port Community System and the National Single Window platform to streamline cargo clearance processes, reduce delays and improve transparency.
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\n\u200eIndustry stakeholders believe these initiatives could significantly lower the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports while improving turnaround time and operational efficiency.
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\n\u200eThe government has also expanded investments in rail integration, inland dry ports, barging operations and export corridors to improve cargo evacuation and reduce congestion around port corridors.
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\n\u200eSecurity improvements within Nigerian waters have further strengthened confidence in the sector. Nigeria has now recorded over four years without piracy incidents, a development attributed to the Deep Blue Programme and enhanced maritime surveillance systems.
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\n\u200eAccording to the NPA, the Q1 performance demonstrates that the maritime sector is evolving into a more cargo-intensive and commercially dynamic ecosystem capable of supporting economic growth, trade facilitation and regional connectivity.
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\n\u200eDespite the progress, Dantsoho recently acknowledged that Nigeria still handles only about 25 per cent of cargo traffic in West Africa despite accounting for more than 60 per cent of the region\u2019s GDP, stressing that the country must sustain ongoing reforms to fully optimise its maritime potential.
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\n\u200e\u201cWith sustained commitment to these initiatives, Nigeria\u2019s port system will enter a new phase and emerge as a leading maritime logistics hub in Africa,\u201d he assured.,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u200e \u200e \u200eNigeria\u2019s maritime sector recorded strong operational growth in the first quarter of 2026, with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) for ocean-going vessels rising by 19.5 per cent to 46.75 million, underscoring the increasing dominance of larger-capacity ships across the nation\u2019s ports amid ongoing reforms targeted at positioning the country as a regional trade hub […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2049"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2051,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049\/revisions\/2051"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsemperormagazines.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}