Nigeria’s seaports handled 32.38 million metric tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of 2026, marking an 11.6 per cent increase from the same period last year as larger vessels and stronger export activity boosted port operations. Figures released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) showed Gross Registered Tonnage for ocean-going vessels rose to 46.75 million, reflecting growing confidence among international shipping lines and the increasing use of larger-capacity ships.
Outward cargo traffic climbed 23.7 per cent to 14.13 million metric tonnes, while outward laden container traffic surged 67.6 per cent to 102,803 TEUs. Vehicle traffic also jumped 67 per cent to 58,870 units during the quarter. The NPA said the growth was driven by rising trade volumes, improved port efficiency and ongoing reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a regional maritime and logistics hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Transshipment container activity also rose sharply by 83.1 per cent, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing role in regional trade and logistics networks. NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho recently said Nigeria’s ports must evolve beyond traditional limitations to compete effectively in an increasingly integrated African market, stressing that efficiency, speed, innovation and reliability would determine dominance in continental trade.
“The time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria’s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources. Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth,” he said at an industry forum in Lagos.