The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), continues to drive economic growth via trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and operational efficiency.

A $60 million investment in green port initiatives by the administration of President Bola Tinubu is set to modernize NPA operations, with a strong focus on boosting local content development.

Recent data from 2025 shows unprecedented growth, positioning Nigeria’s ports as central hubs for national prosperity. The NPA’s sustained efficiencies contributed to Nigeria’s international trade reaching ₦5.81 trillion in Q3 2024, producing a notable trade surplus. Export-laden container volumes surged, and total cargo throughput rose 16.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2025. Additionally, the NPA remitted ₦400.8 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024, nearly doubling the previous year’s contribution.

The operationalization of the Dangote Refinery Single Point Mooring (SPM) system is expected to attract numerous vessels annually, further boosting revenue. NPA support for trading petroleum in Naira has also helped conserve foreign exchange and strengthen energy security.

By integrating Nigeria into the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA) and implementing the National Single Window project, the NPA has enhanced transparency and modernized maritime operations. Its leadership has been recognized with an Award of Excellence for advancing port infrastructure.

In 2025 alone, export-laden container volumes skyrocketed by 1,085 per cent, while total cargo throughput increased by 16.2 per cent. Total container traffic rose 18.9 per cent to 546,931 TEUs, with import containers up 33.1 per cent and export containers surging from 5,812 TEUs to 69,039 TEUs. This growth also led to a 21.5 per cent reduction in empty container traffic, signaling a stronger balance between imports and exports.

Ship traffic also grew, with vessel calls up 8.4 per cent to 1,074 and total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) rising 18 per cent to 42.64 million. Lekki Deep Seaport led the growth, handling 46.8 per cent of total cargo, followed by Onne Port with 17 per cent. Lekki Port also received the largest vessels, averaging 57,244 GRT.

The strong performance has been attributed to the Federal Government’s export-driven reforms and growing investor confidence, reflecting improved operational efficiency across all pilotage districts, according to NPA officials.