The $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport has officially begun international cargo transhipment to several West African countries, including Togo, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Côte d’Ivoire, as it moves to ramp up operations.
According to the Port’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Odibe, Lekki Port handled 222,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in the first half of 2025, with a target of reaching 500,000 TEUs by year-end—an increase from the 287,000 TEUs recorded in 2024. However, this still represents just 20% of the port’s 1.2 million TEU annual capacity.
Odibe attributed the earlier decline in cargo throughput to the removal of fuel subsidies and the depreciation of the Naira, which negatively impacted import volumes in 2024. He noted that volumes are now recovering, supported by growing transhipment activities to both coastal and landlocked countries in the region.
“Lekki Port currently receives between 10 to 12 vessels monthly, and our transhipment operations to Togo, Benin, Abidjan, and Ghana are increasing steadily,” he said. “We’ve seen growth from 54,289 TEUs in 2023 to 222,000 TEUs in just the first six months of 2025.”
He also disclosed that the port’s vessel turnaround time now averages 48 hours, while truck turnaround stands at approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes—an indication of improving operational efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Port’s Managing Director, Wang Qiang, represented by Chief Operating Officer Young Qiang, reaffirmed Lekki Port’s commitment to international best practices. “We’re continually raising the bar, deploying cutting-edge technology and driving efficiency to cement our position as West Africa’s deepest seaport,” he said.
Lekki Port’s growing regional footprint is expected to boost Nigeria’s maritime trade profile and strengthen its position as a key logistics hub in West Africa.
