Lekki Deep Seaport Leads as Nigerian Ports Log 2,152 Vessel Calls

By Samuel Akpan

Nigeria’s seaports welcomed 2,152 vessels in the first half of 2026, a 6.9 per cent rise, as Lekki Port took 48.4 per cent of the calls and nearly 40 per cent of national cargo throughput.

The figure formed the Nigerian Ports Authority half-year scorecard, presented at the Port Consultative Council’s quarterly meeting in Lagos.

“Lekki Port emerged as the standout performer among the nation’s port locations,” NPA Managing Director/CEO Dr Abubakar Dantsoho said, crediting most of the lift to Dangote Refinery traffic.

“The plant accounted for 76 per cent of total cargo traffic recorded at the port during the review period,” he told the Lagos gathering.

According to him, inward cargo reached 38,411,323 metric tonnes, against 36,338,068 metric tonnes in the same stretch of 2025, a 5.6 per cent increase.

“Onne Port also posted strong growth, with a 26.6 per cent rise in vessel calls,” Dantsoho said, adding “supported largely by LNG exports.”

Onne now accounts for 22.7 per cent of national cargo throughput, he added, as eastern export traffic gathers pace.

“Calabar and Rivers ports remained marginal contributors, jointly accounting for just over four per cent of cargo handled nationwide,” the NPA boss said.

Other ports recorded a decline in vessel calls over the six months, according to the NPA scorecard.

Gross registered tonnage climbed to 96,693,108 from 79,981,595 in the first half of 2025, a 20.9 per cent jump, Dantsoho stated.