From Congestion To Global Influence: Inside NPA’s Historic 2025 Maritime Transformation
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recorded a landmark transformation in 2025, positioning Nigeria’s maritime sector as a growing force in regional and global trade through sweeping reforms, record-breaking performance, and renewed international influence.
Since the appointment of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, in July 2024, the Authority has undergone a significant turnaround. Under his leadership, Nigeria’s ports have evolved into more efficient and competitive hubs, directly contributing to national economic growth. Official figures show that sustained port efficiency helped push Nigeria’s international trade value to ₦5.81 trillion in the third quarter of 2024.
Beyond operational gains, the NPA played a strategic role in national fiscal reforms. Dr. Dantsoho successfully implemented the presidential directive mandating the trade of petroleum products in naira, easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves. He also led Nigeria’s integration into the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), a critical step toward the Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative, enhancing transparency and efficiency in port operations. These achievements recently earned him an Award of Excellence for maritime infrastructure modernization.
The Authority’s progress was further reflected in Nigeria’s re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council after a 14-year absence. The development placed Nigeria among 19 countries in Category C—reserved for nations with special interests in maritime transport and navigation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the re-election demonstrated global confidence in Nigeria’s commitment to maritime safety, security, environmental stewardship, and rules-based operations. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and Nigeria’s diplomatic team for their strategic engagement, assuring member states that Nigeria would justify the confidence reposed in it.
Minister Oyetola described the achievement as “a landmark endorsement of the renewed confidence the world has in Nigeria,” while Dr. Dantsoho noted that Nigeria had “spoken boldly on the global stage.”
A major operational milestone was recorded in July 2025 with the berthing of MV Ocean Dragon, the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel of its kind. The 349-TEU vessel, owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, is set to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and South Africa.
Dr. Dantsoho said the vessel aligned with President Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy and NPA’s local content development drive. According to Clarion Shipping’s Vice President, Bernadine Eloka, the acquisition offers a safer and more cost-effective alternative to road-dominated cargo movement, supporting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Sustainability also featured prominently in NPA’s 2025 agenda, with a fresh $60 million investment committed to green port initiatives. These efforts coincided with outstanding performance metrics. In the third quarter of 2025, export-laden container volumes surged by 1,085 percent, while total cargo throughput rose by 16.2 percent.
Container traffic increased by 18.9 percent to 546,931 TEUs, with import-laden containers growing by 33.1 percent to 268,713 TEUs. Export-laden containers jumped dramatically from 5,812 TEUs in Q3 2024 to 69,039 TEUs. The surge also led to a 21.5 percent reduction in empty container traffic, signaling stronger non-oil export activity.
Ship traffic rose significantly, with vessel calls increasing by 8.4 percent to 1,074 and Gross Registered Tonnage climbing by 18 percent to 42.64 million. Lekki Deep Seaport emerged as the leading growth driver, handling 46.8 percent of total cargo and receiving the largest vessels by average tonnage.
International recognition of Nigeria’s maritime resurgence continued with Dr. Dantsoho’s election as Vice President of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) for Africa, as well as his emergence as the first Nigerian since 1972 to lead the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA).
Domestically, the NPA capped off 2025 with the launch of the Electronic Call-Up System at Onne Port in Rivers State, a long-awaited initiative designed to address traffic congestion and curb extortion by non-state actors. Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Port Consultative Council and truck drivers, welcomed the move, noting its potential to restore order and improve efficiency.
Looking ahead, the Authority has outlined an ambitious roadmap for 2026. At a Citizens’ Engagement Meeting in Abuja, Dr. Dantsoho and Minister Oyetola announced a $1 billion port rehabilitation and modernization project. Central to the plan is the launch of a Port Community System (PCS) in 2026, designed to digitize port operations and serve as a bridge to the National Single Window.
The PCS is expected to significantly reduce vessel turnaround time, cut demurrage costs, plug revenue leakages, and provide reliable trade data for national planning.
With the achievements of 2025 and bold reforms underway, the Nigerian Ports Authority is poised to redefine Nigeria’s maritime landscape, reinforcing the nation’s position as a key player in global shipping and trade as 2026 approaches.
