The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says Nigeria’s cargo throughput increased to 32.38 million metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, representing an 11.6 per cent growth compared to the same period last year.
The agency attributed the increase to higher trade volumes, improved operational efficiency at the ports, and growing demand for terminal services across the country.
Cargo throughput measures the total volume of goods loaded, unloaded, or handled within a transport hub over a specific period.
According to the NPA’s Q1 2026 operational performance report, the gross registered tonnage (GRT) of ocean-going vessels also rose by 19.5 per cent to 46.75 million, reflecting the increasing deployment of larger vessels to Nigerian ports.
The authority noted that reforms and operational improvements at key terminals, especially the Lekki Deep Sea Port, contributed significantly to the improved performance by enhancing vessel traffic and cargo handling capacity.
The report showed that outward cargo traffic climbed by 23.7 per cent to 14.13 million metric tonnes, while outward laden container traffic surged by 67.6 per cent to 102,803 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared to 61,332 TEUs recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Vehicle throughput also increased sharply by 67 per cent to 58,870 units, while transshipment container activities rose by 83.1 per cent, highlighting Nigeria’s expanding role in regional trade and logistics under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, said the maritime sector was witnessing a transformation driven by infrastructure renewal and policy reforms.
He stressed the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s marine resources to stimulate economic growth, noting that the nation’s ports have the capacity to become a major engine of development if effectively managed.
Dantsoho further stated that efficiency, innovation, and reliable service delivery would be critical to Nigeria’s ability to remain competitive in the emerging continental trade environment.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, also said the federal government was committed to repositioning Nigerian ports as competitive regional gateways.
According to him, ongoing reforms are focused on upgrading infrastructure, strengthening technology deployment, and improving operational processes across the maritime sector to align Nigerian ports with global standards.
The NPA added that improved security within Nigeria’s territorial waters has also boosted investor confidence, noting that the country has maintained over four years without recorded piracy incidents.
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