The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is riding a wave of unprecedented growth, with 2025 emerging as a watershed year that is redefining Nigeria’s maritime landscape and amplifying the country’s influence in global trade.
Since his appointment in July 2024, the Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has injected fresh momentum into the Authority, repositioning Nigeria’s ports as efficient, competitive hubs that are increasingly central to national economic performance. Under his leadership, port operations have been streamlined, transparency has improved, and investor confidence has surged.
The results are measurable and compelling. Sustained efficiency gains across Nigerian ports helped drive the country’s international trade volume to ₦5.81 trillion in the third quarter of 2024, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to economic growth. Beyond operations, Dantsoho has played a pivotal role in national fiscal reform by implementing the presidential directive to trade petroleum products in naira – an intervention that has eased pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.
A defining pillar of this transformation has been digital integration. By facilitating Nigeria’s entry into the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA)—a critical precursor to the federal government’s National Single Window (NSW) project, NPA has ushered in a new era of transparency, efficiency, and data-driven port management.
This reformist drive recently earned Dantsoho an Award of Excellence in recognition of his leadership in modernising maritime infrastructure.
2025: A Year of Breakthroughs
The Authority’s 2025 performance tells a story of ambition matched by execution. From berthing the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel to posting record operational metrics, NPA has steadily consolidated its role as the architect of Nigeria’s maritime future.
One of the most symbolic milestones was Nigeria’s re-election to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after a 14-year hiatus—an achievement that reflects the nation’s renewed credibility on the global maritime stage.
Commenting on the development, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, noted that the election “reflects the international community’s confidence in Nigeria’s commitment to safety, security, environmental stewardship, and rules-based maritime operations.”
President Bola Tinubu commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside Nigeria’s diplomatic team, for their strategic engagement, assuring IMO member states that Nigeria would justify the trust placed in it through sustained leadership and active contribution. The victory placed Nigeria among 19 nations in Category C, reserved for countries with special interests in maritime transport and navigation.
Oyetola described the re-election as “a landmark endorsement of the renewed confidence the world has in Nigeria”, while Dantsoho added: “Nigeria has spoken boldly on the global stage, and today, the world is listening”.
Nigerian Content Takes Centre Stage
That confidence was further reinforced in July 2025 with the berthing of MV Ocean Dragon, a 349-TEU container vessel wholly owned by Nigerians. For Dantsoho, the vessel embodies President Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy and NPA’s renewed commitment to local content development.
Owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, the vessel will operate across West Africa and beyond servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and South Africa while supporting short-sea shipping, cutting logistics costs, and easing pressure on Nigeria’s road networks.
According to Bernadine Eloka, Vice President of Clarion Shipping, the acquisition represents a strategic response to the risks of road-dominated cargo movement and a deliberate push to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Record Metrics and Green Investments
NPA’s operational gains have been reinforced by sustainability-focused investments, including a fresh $60 million commitment to green port initiatives, designed to modernise operations while deepening local capacity.
Performance data from the third quarter 2025 underscores the scale of progress. Export-laden container volumes surged by an extraordinary 1,085%, total cargo throughput rose by 16.2%, and overall container traffic climbed 18.9% to 546,931 TEUs. Import-laden containers increased by 33.1%, while export-laden containers jumped from 5,812 TEUs in Q3 2024 to 69,039 TEUs.
Crucially, the rise in exports led to a 21.5% reduction in empty container traffic, signalling stronger non-oil export activity and a healthier balance between imports and exports. Vessel calls grew by 8.4% to 1,074 ships, while Gross Registered Tonnage expanded by 18% to 42.64 million.
Lekki Deep Seaport emerged as the primary growth engine, accounting for 46.8% of total cargo, followed by Onne Port with 17%. Lekki also received the largest vessels, with an average GRT of 57,244, highlighting Nigeria’s growing capacity to handle mega-ships.
Attributing the strong showing to export-driven reforms and rising investor confidence, Dantsoho said the figures reflected “improved operational efficiency across all pilotage districts”, driven by ongoing port modernisation and digital expansion.
Rising Global Influence
Nigeria’s maritime renaissance has also translated into leadership on the international stage. In 2025, Dantsoho was elected Vice President of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) for Africa, a role that further elevates Nigeria’s voice in global port governance. This followed another historic achievement: becoming the first Nigerian since 1972 to lead the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA).
With IAPH representing ports that handle over 60% of global seaborne trade, these appointments underscore Nigeria’s re-emergence as a maritime leader of consequence.
Decongesting Ports, Digitising the Future
Domestically, NPA capped off 2025 by launching the long-awaited Electronic Call-Up System at Onne Port, aimed at resolving chronic traffic congestion and restoring order to port access.
Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Port Consultative Council, hailed the move as critical to protecting investments, curbing extortion, and improving safety and efficiency.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
With momentum firmly on its side, the NPA is already charting a bold course for 2026. At a recent Citizens’ Engagement Meeting in Abuja, Dantsoho and Minister Oyetola unveiled a visionary roadmap anchored on a $1 billion port rehabilitation and modernisation programme.
Central to this plan is the launch of a Port Community System (PCS) in 2026, a digitally integrated platform that will automate cargo processes, eliminate revenue leakages, and serve as a bridge to the National Single Window. Tailored to Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the PCS is expected to save millions of dollars annually by reducing vessel turnaround time and demurrage, while providing reliable trade data for long-term planning.
Building on the landmark achievements of 2025, the Nigerian Ports Authority is no longer just reforming ports—it is redefining Nigeria’s place in global maritime commerce.
In this 2026, the Authority stands poised to deliver a transformation that will resonate far beyond the quayside.