The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) handled 2,300 ships across Nigerian ports in the first half of 2026, representing a 6.9 per cent increase over 2,152 ships in H1 2025.
The NPA Managing Director, Mr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this on Thursday at the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) quarterly meeting in Lagos.
The meeting had the theme, ‘Simplifying Cross-Border Trade and Enhancing Ease of Doing Business at Our Ports.’
Dantsoho, represented by NPA Principal Manager, Statistics, Mrs Okenwa Igwebuike, said Gross Registered Tonnage rose 20.9 per cent to 96.6 million.
He said the figure increased from 79.9 million in H1 2025, driven largely by improved performances at Lekki and Onne ports.
Dantsoho said total cargo throughput rose to 68.2 million metric tonnes from 60.8 million tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025.
He said the figure represented a 12.2 per cent year-on-year increase across all port locations.
“Inward cargo stood at 38.4 million tonnes, compared with 36.3 million tonnes in H1 2025.
“Outward cargo grew by 23.5 per cent to 29.2 million tonnes during the period under review,” he added.
Dantsoho said Lekki Port handled nearly 40 per cent of national cargo throughput, with Dangote Refinery operations accounting for over 76 per cent of its cargo traffic.
He said Onne Port contributed 22.7 per cent, supported by LNG exports, while Calabar and Rivers ports jointly accounted for slightly above four per cent.
The NPA boss said container traffic increased 10.3 per cent to 815,236 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), from 739,142 TEUs in H1 2025.
He said imports accounted for 546,755 TEUs, representing 67 per cent of total container traffic during the period.
“Container exports stood at 203,980 TEUs, representing 25 per cent, while transshipment surged 169.5 per cent to 35,574 TEUs,” he said.
Dantsoho noted that despite the transshipment growth, the segment accounted for only four per cent of total container throughput.
He said 103,375 vehicles were handled in H1 2026, representing a 42.5 per cent increase from 72,568 units in H1 2025.
He attributed the growth largely to PTML transshipment operations at Tin Can Island Port.
Dantsoho, however, said vessel turnaround time worsened by six per cent to 5.3 days from five days, while overall berth occupancy increased 3.1 per cent to 36.1 per cent.
He described Dangote Refinery as a “game changer”, accounting for about 40 per cent of cargo traffic, and stressed infrastructure investment ahead of its planned expansion.
He said the planned expansion to 1.4 million barrels per day required infrastructure investment and a balanced tariff policy nationwide.
Dantsoho attributed increased container traffic to industrial activities and relative economic stability, describing Onne Port’s growth as positive for balanced port utilisation.
He said the four per cent transshipment contribution and absence of transit traffic showed the sector’s dependence on captive cargo.
According to him, developing transit cargo to landlocked neighbouring countries is essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a regional maritime hub.
Dantsoho identified insufficient funding as a major challenge, saying the Federal Government’s 50 per cent automatic deduction from government-owned enterprises constrained responses to operational emergencies.
He urged the council to support engagement with the Federal Government for an 80:20 revenue-sharing arrangement in favour of NPA.
He also called for continued stakeholder collaboration to support port reconstruction and modernisation projects aimed at improving efficiency.
The Chief Superintendent of Customs, Tin Can Island Command, Mr Franklyn Echeta, said the command recently delivered stolen vehicles to the Canadian Embassy through stakeholder collaboration.
Echeta said the command had introduced innovations, including the indigenous B’Odogwu platform, which replaced NICIS II for end-to-end electronic clearance.
He said the National Single Window would connect Customs, government agencies and shipping companies to reduce duplication and improve ease of doing business.
Echeta also listed the Authorised Economic Operator programme, Advance Ruling, VREG, non-intrusive scanners and risk-based data analytics among measures promoting compliance.
Mrs Ijeoma Ezeasor, Secretary-General, National Shippers Association of Nigeria (NSAN), commended Customs’ digitisation but raised concerns over cybersecurity.
She urged authorities to assure stakeholders that business data was securely stored within Nigeria and handled in compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, Chairman, Ports Operations and Security Committee, urged the Nigeria Customs Service to collaborate with sister agencies on the National Single Window.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, said government had almost completed freight operations at Ijora, Moniya and Papalanto.
Opeifa said the projects would enhance cargo evacuation from ports and improve connectivity with hinterland locations.
He said the NRC was expanding standard and narrow-gauge services linking Apapa, Tin Can and Lekki ports to Inland Dry Ports.
According to him, increased rail deployment will remove trucks from Apapa, decongest the Apapa-Oshodi corridor and reduce logistics costs.
Opeifa urged stakeholders to embrace rail freight as a sustainable solution for improving cargo evacuation and port efficiency. (NAN)
