The first quarter of 2026 saw a 19.5% growth in vessel traffic, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) for ocean-going vessels reaching 46.75 million and cargo throughput reaching 32.38 million metric tons.
The numbers were included in the agency’s Q1 2026 Operational Performance Review, which demonstrated Nigeria’s marine industry’s robust growth across key operational parameters.
According to the report, the higher vessel tonnage is a sign of increased trust among international shipping lines operating in Nigerian waters as well as enhanced cargo-carrying efficiency.
The report also showed that cargo throughput excluding crude oil terminals grew by 11.6 per cent year-on-year from 29.02 million metric tons recorded in Q1 2025 to 32.38 million metric tons in the corresponding period of 2026.
Stronger import and export operations, more effective cargo handling, and ongoing demand for port services were all cited by the NPA as the reasons for the expansion.
Similarly, outbound laden container traffic increased dramatically by 67.6% from 61,332 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in Q1 2025 to 102,803 TEUs in Q1 2026, while outbound cargo traffic showed notable growth throughout the time, rising by 23.7% to 14.13 million metric tons.
The overall number of vehicles handled increased by 67 percent to 58,870 units from 35,262 units during the same period previous year, indicating a considerable increase in vehicle traffic.
Additionally, transshipment container activity increased by 83.1%, which development analysts say is indicative of Nigeria’s increasing significance in regional logistics and maritime trade networks.
Nigeria’s ports need to become more competitive and efficient in order to fully take advantage of prospects under the AfCFTA, according to Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the NPA, who spoke at a recent industry symposium in Lagos
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