Nigeria’s maritime sector posted a strong performance in the first quarter of 2026 as ongoing port reforms, infrastructure upgrades, rising exports, and increased cargo activities continued to strengthen the country’s ambition of becoming a leading trade and logistics hub in Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Fresh operational data released by the Nigerian Ports Authority showed that Gross Registered Tonnage rose significantly by 19.5 per cent to 46.75 million during the first quarter of the year, while total cargo throughput climbed to 32.38 million metric tonnes.
The latest figures indicate growing activities across Nigeria’s seaports and suggest that recent economic and maritime reforms introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu are beginning to impact the sector positively.
Industry analysts noted that stronger export movements, increasing vessel capacity, modernisation projects, improved maritime security, and digital transformation initiatives have all contributed to the sector’s improved performance.
Although the total number of vessel calls declined slightly from 1,102 recorded in Q1 2025 to 1,092 in Q1 2026, the sharp rise in vessel tonnage revealed that Nigerian ports are now attracting larger and more efficient cargo vessels capable of transporting higher volumes of goods.
The development reflects a gradual shift towards modern maritime operations where port competitiveness is increasingly determined not just by the number of ships received but by the ability to accommodate deeper-draft vessels, reduce turnaround time, and efficiently manage high-volume cargo operations.
The Federal Government has continued to push aggressive reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s ports within Africa’s growing trade ecosystem under AfCFTA.
Central to the reforms are efforts focused on upgrading infrastructure, improving cargo handling systems, expanding digital operations, strengthening security architecture, and enhancing logistics efficiency across the nation’s ports.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, recently warned that Nigeria risks losing major regional cargo opportunities if its ports fail to meet international standards in speed, efficiency, reliability, and innovation.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, Dantsoho stressed that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on its geographical advantage as Africa’s largest economy but must urgently transform its maritime sector into a globally competitive system capable of supporting regional trade growth.
He explained that the country’s marine resources and port infrastructure possess enormous economic potential that has not been fully utilised over the years, adding that a properly modernised port system could become one of the strongest drivers of national economic expansion.
For decades, Nigerian ports handled a substantial portion of the country’s international trade but struggled with severe congestion, outdated infrastructure, bureaucratic bottlenecks, cargo delays, and operational inefficiencies that pushed many businesses to neighbouring ports in West Africa.
Despite accounting for more than 60 per cent of West Africa’s Gross Domestic Product, Nigeria currently handles only about a quarter of the region’s cargo traffic, a situation maritime authorities believe does not reflect the country’s true economic and geographical advantage.
According to Dantsoho, the era where location alone guaranteed dominance in maritime trade has ended, noting that speed, technology, operational excellence, and efficient service delivery will now determine which countries emerge as Africa’s leading trade gateways under AfCFTA.
The reforms gained momentum shortly after the Tinubu administration created the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the leadership of Adegboyega Oyetola.
The ministry was established to consolidate maritime governance, unlock Nigeria’s estimated multi-trillion-dollar blue economy potential, and accelerate reforms across ports, shipping, fisheries, marine transport, and coastal infrastructure.
Since its creation, the government has introduced several policy initiatives, infrastructure projects, financing programmes, and digital reforms designed to transform the maritime industry and improve competitiveness.
One of the clearest indicators of progress within the sector was the sharp increase in Gross Registered Tonnage during the quarter.
According to the NPA figures, vessel tonnage increased from 39.11 million GRT recorded during Q1 2025 to 46.75 million GRT in Q1 2026, reflecting rising confidence among international shipping lines and increased use of Nigerian ports by larger cargo vessels.
Industry experts linked part of the improvement to the growing operational impact of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which has expanded Nigeria’s capacity to receive larger international vessels and boosted efficiency in cargo operations.
The port is increasingly being viewed as a strategic asset in Nigeria’s push to dominate regional maritime trade and attract more AfCFTA-related cargo flows.
Across Africa, countries are now investing heavily in deep seaport infrastructure because nations capable of handling large vessels efficiently are expected to control a bigger share of continental trade as barriers continue to decline under AfCFTA.
Cargo throughput figures also highlighted the increasing scale of maritime activities across Nigeria’s ports.
Total cargo throughput excluding crude oil terminals rose by 11.6 per cent from 29.02 million metric tonnes recorded in Q1 2025 to 32.38 million metric tonnes in Q1 2026.
The increase reflected stronger trade volumes, rising import and export activities, sustained demand for maritime services, and improved productivity across the ports.
Import cargo traffic increased moderately by 3.3 per cent to 18.11 million metric tonnes, driven largely by continued demand for industrial machinery, consumer goods, manufacturing inputs, and raw materials.
However, export cargo movement recorded the most remarkable growth during the quarter.
Outward cargo traffic surged by 23.7 per cent to 14.13 million metric tonnes, strengthening hopes that Nigeria’s non-oil export sector may be gaining momentum.
Analysts noted that the increase aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda aimed at reducing dependence on crude oil revenues and expanding export earnings through agriculture, manufacturing, and industrial production.
The report linked the stronger export performance to increasing industrial output, rising agricultural exports, improved trade facilitation measures, and better export logistics systems.
Container operations also reflected major changes within Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
Although total container traffic remained relatively stable at 541,229 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, outbound container movement recorded a massive increase.
Outward laden container traffic jumped from 61,332 TEUs recorded during Q1 2025 to 102,803 TEUs in Q1 2026, representing a remarkable 67.6 per cent growth.
Compared with the previous quarter, outbound container traffic more than doubled, suggesting stronger export activities and improved terminal efficiency across Nigerian ports.
Industry experts explained that containerised exports are particularly important because they are often associated with processed goods, manufactured products, and higher-value agricultural exports rather than raw materials alone.
The increase therefore points to gradual improvement in Nigeria’s non-oil export capacity and industrial productivity.
The report also showed a sharp decline in empty container traffic, which fell by 44.7 per cent during the quarter.
Maritime operators described the development as a positive sign because it indicates improved container utilisation, more balanced cargo movements, and better operational efficiency within the shipping ecosystem.
Inward laden container traffic also rose by 5.2 per cent, reflecting sustained import demand across multiple sectors of the economy.
Another major highlight of the quarter was the dramatic increase in vehicle handling operations across Nigerian ports.
Vehicle traffic surged by 67 per cent to 58,870 units during Q1 2026 compared with 35,262 units handled during the same period in 2025.
Relative to Q4 2025, vehicle traffic expanded even further by 76.9 per cent, reflecting rising automotive logistics activities and stronger commercial supply chain operations.
The report further revealed growing transhipment activities, reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as a regional cargo redistribution centre within West Africa.
Transhipment container traffic increased by 83.1 per cent during the quarter as more cargo arriving at Nigerian ports was transferred onto other vessels for onward shipment to different destinations across the region.
Maritime authorities believe that continued improvements in cargo handling efficiency, port infrastructure, and logistics systems could help Nigeria capture a larger share of regional maritime trade under AfCFTA.
To support the transformation drive, the Federal Government recently secured legislative approval for a $1bn loan requested by President Tinubu for the rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port.
According to the government, the rehabilitation project is expected to address long-standing infrastructure deficiencies, improve operational efficiency, strengthen safety standards, and boost the overall competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
Beyond Lagos, procurement processes are already ongoing for major upgrades at the Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Calabar ports as part of a nationwide strategy to modernise maritime infrastructure and stimulate economic growth across coastal regions.
Oyetola has repeatedly stated that the maritime reform agenda extends beyond Lagos and forms part of a broader national strategy to improve connectivity, strengthen trade corridors, and unlock regional economic opportunities.
New deep seaports are also currently under development in Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Ondo states as Nigeria seeks to expand its maritime capacity further.
Industry operator Kingsley Obas noted that the government is simultaneously pursuing extensive digitalisation reforms aimed at eliminating delays associated with manual port processes.
Key digital initiatives include the deployment of the Port Community System and the National Single Window platform, both designed to simplify documentation, integrate stakeholders, improve transparency, reduce cargo clearance delays, and lower the cost of doing business.
According to operators, the systems could significantly improve Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa’s logistics and trade environment.
Obas also explained that rail integration projects, inland dry ports, barging operations, and dedicated export corridors are being expanded to strengthen cargo evacuation systems and improve connectivity between ports and inland markets.
Dantsoho further stressed that sustainable port efficiency cannot be achieved without strong hinterland logistics infrastructure capable of supporting seamless cargo movement across the country.
Another major factor supporting the sector’s recent growth has been the significant improvement in maritime security.
Nigeria has now gone more than four years without recorded piracy incidents, a milestone authorities largely attribute to the Deep Blue Programme and enhanced maritime surveillance systems.
The improved security environment has boosted investor confidence and encouraged greater private sector participation in maritime infrastructure projects.
According to Dantsoho, the Nigerian Ports Authority is increasingly embracing project financing partnerships with private investors to close infrastructure funding gaps and accelerate development.
Analysts believe the Q1 2026 performance reflects a maritime sector gradually transitioning towards higher-value trade operations, stronger export competitiveness, and increased regional influence.
Although challenges such as infrastructure gaps, logistics bottlenecks, and bureaucratic inefficiencies still persist, experts say the current reform momentum demonstrates a strong commitment to repositioning Nigeria as a leading maritime power in Africa.
Analyst Daniel Olumuyiwa stated that countries likely to dominate regional trade under AfCFTA will be those with the fastest, most technologically advanced, and most efficient port systems.
According to him, Nigeria’s future competitiveness will depend not only on geography but on its ability to build a modern maritime ecosystem capable of meeting the demands of continental trade.
Early indicators from the first quarter of 2026 suggest that Nigeria may finally be moving steadily in that direction.
