Lekki Deep Sea Port Handles $9.3 Billion in Trade, Cementing Status as Nigeria’s Second-Largest Port
Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port has recorded approximately 13.46 trillion naira in combined imports and exports over the first nine months of 2025, equivalent to around $9.3 billion at current exchange rates.
This achievement positions the port as the country’s second-largest in trade value, a remarkable feat for a facility that only began commercial operations in 2023.
Official trade data for January to September show that Lekki’s trade value surpasses that of long-established competitors. During the same period, Tin Can Island Port recorded an estimated 9.31 trillion naira in trade, while Onne Port logged 6.76 trillion naira. Apapa Port remains Nigeria’s largest, but Lekki’s rapid ascent is reshaping the maritime landscape.
At a year-end briefing in Lagos, Wang Qiang, Managing Director of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, said the figures reflect growing confidence from global shipping lines and cargo owners.
Container volumes have climbed steadily, enabling the port to reach roughly half of its design capacity much earlier than analysts anticipated.
“The pace of growth underscores how quickly the market is recognising the value of modern infrastructure,” Wang said, highlighting the port’s deeper draught, automation, and ability to accommodate larger vessels as key factors in its success.
Once fully operational, the facility will handle significant container and bulk shipments, strengthening Nigeria’s role in regional and global trade.
Captain Jedrzej Mierzewski, CEO of Lekki Freeport Terminal, described the performance as unprecedented in Nigeria’s maritime history, particularly for a port younger than most of its competitors.
He noted that barge operations currently account for about 10% of cargo movement, easing pressure on Lagos’s congested road network.
While celebrating its achievements, executives emphasized that continued growth depends on improving hinterland connectivity.
Wang highlighted the importance of completing major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and expanded rail links, to support industrial activity along the Lekki corridor. Without these enhancements, trade bottlenecks could undermine the port’s efficiency despite its advanced automation.
Digital integration among government agencies was also flagged as critical. Although the port itself operates fully automatically, delays in cargo clearance persist unless agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service adopt streamlined digital processes.
Looking ahead, Mierzewski called on the Federal Government to simplify the tax regime for importers and exporters.
He pointed to international practices, such as Germany’s 30-day VAT payment window after cargo clearance, as a model that could improve efficiency and attract investment.
The rapid rise of Lekki Deep Sea Port signals a shift in Nigeria’s maritime trade, with the modern facility drawing high-value cargo from legacy ports and reshaping the movement of goods into and out of Africa’s largest economy.
