Maritime reforms rekindles port growth as cargo throughput up 12.3%, vessel traffic 14.4%

 

 

Maureen Aguta

The Federal Government’s maritime sector reforms are beginning to translate into stronger operational performance at the nation’s seaports, with cargo throughput, vessel traffic, container movements and vehicle traffic all recording significant growth in the second quarter of 2026.

The latest Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Operational Performance Report showed that cargo throughput rose by 12.3 per cent year-on-year to 35.74 million metric tonnes in Q2 2026, from 31.83 million tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

The performance was accompanied by a 14.4 per cent increase in ocean-going vessel traffic, while outward cargo surged by 22 per cent, pointing to improved export activity and growing confidence in the port system.

Commenting on the performance, NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said the increase in cargo volumes and ship calls underscored the resilience of the nation’s seaports and their growing competitiveness as trade gateways.

The report showed that inward cargo accounted for 56.8 per cent of total cargo handled during the quarter, while outward cargo represented 41.9 per cent. Transshipment cargo contributed 488,364 tonnes, or about 1.4 per cent of total throughput.

While inward cargo increased by 7.7 per cent, outward cargo recorded a much stronger 22 per cent growth, reflecting an improvement in export flows during the period.

Vessel traffic also recorded a significant jump, with the number of ocean-going vessels completed rising from 1,050 in Q2 2025 to 1,201 in Q2 2026.

The Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of the vessels increased by 22.2 per cent, from 40.87 million tonnes to 49.95 million tonnes, indicating that the ports handled not only more ships but also substantially greater vessel capacity.
Activity among service boats also expanded, with completed operations rising 22.3 per cent from 3,554 to 4,347. Their associated GRT climbed by 62.4 per cent, from 1.06 million tonnes to 1.73 million tonnes.

Container traffic followed the upward trend, increasing by 11.3 per cent from 541,229 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in Q2 2025 to 602,392 TEUs in the period under review.

Inward laden containers rose by 6.3 per cent and accounted for about 51.5 per cent of total container traffic. Although outward laden containers declined marginally by 3.9 per cent, empty container movements increased by 13.9 per cent.

A major development was the emergence of transshipment container traffic, which reached 29,038 TEUs in Q2 2026, compared with no recorded movement in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

The NPA said the development reinforced the potential of Nigerian ports to become a regional transshipment hub, particularly if ongoing port modernisation, infrastructure investment and commercial engagement with global shipping lines are sustained.
Vehicle traffic also rose sharply, with 44,147 units handled during the quarter, compared with 37,306 units in Q2 2025, representing an 18.3 per cent increase.
The authority attributed the improvement largely to increased automobile import activity amid greater exchange-rate stability.

The latest figures point to a broad-based improvement in port operations, rather than growth concentrated in a single performance indicator.

The NPA said Q2 2026 recorded encouraging performance across ship traffic, cargo throughput, container movements, vehicle traffic and berth utilisation.

Dantsoho, however, said the authority was looking beyond the immediate gains, stressing that infrastructure renewal would be critical to sustaining the momentum.

According to him, the NPA’s priority for 2026 is a major overhaul of port infrastructure, supported by digitalisation and improvements in operational efficiency.

At the centre of the programme is the modernisation of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, which the authority considers increasingly constrained by age and capacity limitations.

The NPA is also supporting the development of the Lekki and Badagry deep-sea ports, while efforts are being made to revitalise the Eastern Ports to expand capacity and reduce pressure on the Lagos port complex.

Dantsoho said the full implementation of the Port Community System would further streamline port processes by reducing manual bottlenecks and integrating stakeholders into a more efficient digital operating environment.
The system is expected to complement the National Single Window, which became operational in the first quarter of 2026, creating a more integrated digital trade ecosystem.

The NPA is also deploying technology-driven security measures to support 24-hour port operations and strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders to improve cargo evacuation and tackle congestion.

For the authority, the Q2 performance represents more than a statistical improvement. The combination of rising cargo volumes, increased vessel calls, stronger export traffic and the emergence of transshipment activity suggests that Nigeria’s ports are beginning to capture a larger share of regional maritime trade.

The challenge, however, will be to convert the current growth into sustained competitiveness by completing infrastructure upgrades, improving cargo evacuation and reducing the cost and time of doing business at the ports.

Dantsoho said the expected outcome of the reforms would be faster port operations, lower logistics costs, higher trade volumes and stronger export competitiveness, positioning Nigeria as a major trade and maritime hub in West Africa.