Lekki Deep Seaport Emerges as West Africa’s Maritime Hub, Sees 394.8% Surge in Cargo handling

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With the commencement of international transhipment services to ports in Togo, Benin Republic, Abidjan, and Ghana, the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport has established Nigeria as a prominent maritime hub in the West and Central African region.

Having begun commercial operations in 2023, the port is now focused on increasing its throughput, aiming to reach 500,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) by the end of 2025, up from 287,000 TEUs handled in 2024 .

Transhipment Operations: The port is actively targeting additional transhipment opportunities with several West African nations, with current operations gaining momentum, particularly to neighboring and landlocked countries.

Cargo Handling: The port has processed 222,000 TEUs between January and June 2025, a significant leap from the 54,289 TEUs handled in 2023, its first year of operation.

Operational Efficiency: The current vessel turnaround time stands at 48 hours, while truck turnaround time is approximately one hour and 25 minutes. The average cargo dwell time at the port is 16 days.

Growth Potential:  Despite having a total installed capacity of 1.2 million TEUs, the port is currently operating at only about 20 percent of its potential cargo volume, with room for growth and expansion.

Future Projections:

The Lekki Port management is optimistic about meeting its annual projection of 500,000 TEUs, reflecting strong operational momentum and growing confidence in the facility’s capacity.

With its modern infrastructure and congestion-free operations, the port is poised to become a key logistics hub in West Africa, attracting global carriers and boosting Nigeria’s trade ambitions .

By Esther Komolafe

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