$1.5bn Lekki Port Accelerates Nigeria’s Blue Economy Strategy

Victoria Silvanus

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has continued to give Ports Managements everything to do excellent jobs, his blueprint is what is being implemented at the various Ports. The need to improve on efficiency in line with international best practices has usually been advocated by the Managing Director and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

One of the success stories of the NPA MD is the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port which commenced operations in April 2023 with a capacity to process about 1.2 million cargoes annually as it continues to gain commendation for its various operational milestones. The Port which has the deepest draught of all the ports in Nigeria with a level of minus 16.5 metres and sits on a 19 hectare land area is one of the ports under the Nigerian Ports Authority with Emmanuel Anda as the Port manager.

The Lekki Port has successfully transhipped over 62,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) to various West African countries, its smart port model is unique in Nigeria and the short turn around time for vessels stands at just 2 days. The physical layout of the Port has a 2 kilometres break water ridge which calms the waves from the harbour with a 9.6 kilometre channel providing the way for the 4 tug boats used by the Port to bring in the large vessels that drop the cargoes.

The Port has a  680m quay length, with a breakwater of 2km for the Phase 1 operations. Upon expansion to Phase 2, the quayway will be extended to 1,500m, and the depth will become minus 19.5meters in the near future. The Port's  development was made possible through a 45-year Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model from NPA.

The scanners only need about 33 seconds to scan a container as soon as the 5 gantry (ship to shore cranes) have  done the usual evacuation. The stacking method follows the 7 wide , 6 heights system. Movement of the container from ship to shore takes a maximum of 3 minutes and presently, about 20% of the cargoes are evacuated through barges. The Port's integrated automated operations makes business easier for the Port users. 

From January to August 2025, the port recorded 88,432 TEU imports, 123,013 TEU exports, 62,581 TEU transhipment moves, 16,925 TEU restows, and 34,710 TEU barge movements with a projection to handle over 500,000 TEUs by end of 2025. Transhipment already represents 38 per cent of total activity, signalling the port’s growing hub status.

The Lekki Port manager, Emmanuel Anda  has also been praised for his contribution in improving the Operational Services at the Port which has seen the Port engaging in various innovative operational methods and also the transhipment of cargoes. The Port has evolved into a strategic maritime gateway, reshaping the logistics landscape of West Africa and opening new corridors for trade and industrial ambition across the continent.

The port facility includes three container berths, three liquid bulk berths and one dry bulk berth. The dry bulk and liquid terminal operations are in view. The Port is presently operating around 50% of its designed capacity. Barge operations currently account for 20% of cargo movement, but rail connectivity is essential for long-term efficiency, particularly with the Lekki Free Zone’s industrial activities.

Lekki Port’s technological design integrates automated gates, OCR systems, ship-to-shore cranes, rubber tyred gantry cranes, FS 6000 drive-through scanners, truck parks, and advanced control systems.

Its berth productivity averages 18 to 20 moves per hour, with truck turnaround time at approximately 45 minutes and container dwell time at 12 to 13 days. The Port is currently Nigeria’s second-largest terminal.

The nation’s Port regulator is equally convinced of Lekki’s transformational impact. Lekki Port Manager, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Emmanuel Anda, said the port had recalibrated West Africa’s maritime geography.

“For the first time, Nigeria is handling ultra-large vessels efficiently; Lekki is deepening Nigeria’s presence on global shipping routes and strengthening our maritime competitiveness. He said that the port was significantly boosting export activity, helping Nigeria approach a healthier balance of trade. "The continued progression could see Lekki become a global export hub within 10 to 15 years". Mr. Anda added.

Road infrastructure upgrades are ongoing, and the planned Lagos Green Line rail connection will significantly boost cargo evacuation and accessibility.

In the wider West African theatre, where the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is opening unprecedented opportunities, Lekki Deep Sea Port offers something rare: scale, speed and unmatched efficiency.

Amid capacity constraints in neighbouring countries and rising demand for deep-water logistics, Lekki gives Africa a competitive edge. On an ordinary day, containers rise like a new skyline, cranes swing rhythmically over the quayside, and massive ships glide into position. Beneath the mechanical precision is something more profound: a new economic centre is being born on the Nigerian coastline.

Presently, exports are surpassing imports, there is free-flowing cargo movement in and out of the seaports and Dangote Refinery, plus port automation—including marine operations like the 4 tugboats and efficient barging—the story centres on seamless activities within the pilotage district.

The Minister of Blue and Marine Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has also said that the Federal Government estimated more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created over the 45-year concession period and revenue contributions of 158 billion dollars, alongside 361 billion dollars in GDP impact from the project.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has continued to give Ports Managements everything to do excellent jobs, his blueprint is what is being implemented at the various Ports. The need to improve on efficiency in line with international best practices has usually been advocated by the Managing Director and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola

A Landmark Investment with Global Standards

One of the most visible success stories of the NPA’s reform agenda is the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port, which commenced operations in April 2023. Designed to handle approximately 1.2 million TEUs annually, the port has quickly gained recognition for achieving major operational milestones.

Lekki Port boasts the deepest draught in Nigeria at 16.5 metres, enabling it to handle ultra-large container vessels previously unable to berth in the country. Situated on a 19-hectare site and managed by Mr. Emmanuel Anda, the port operates under a 45-year Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) concession granted by the NPA.

Lekki Port has already transhipped over 62,000 TEUs to various West African destinations, reinforcing its emerging role as a regional hub. Its smart port model, the first of its kind in Nigeria, has delivered exceptional efficiency, with vessel turnaround time averaging just two days.

The port’s infrastructure includes:

A 2km breakwater that calms harbour waves

A 9.6km navigational channel

Four tugboats supporting safe and efficient vessel movement

A 680-metre quay length for Phase 1 operations

With Phase 2 expansion, the quay length will increase to 1,500 metres, and depth will reach –19.5 metres, further enhancing capacity and competitiveness.

High-Speed Cargo Handling

Lekki Port’s integrated automation system enables impressive handling speeds:

Container scanning takes approximately 33 seconds

Ship-to-shore movement averages under 3 minutes

Five ship-to-shore gantry cranes support rapid evacuation

Stacking follows a 7-wide, 6-high configuration

About 20% of cargo is evacuated via barges

These efficiencies are supported by automated gates, OCR systems, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, FS6000 drive-through scanners, truck parks, and advanced control systems.

From January to August 2025, Lekki Port recorded:

88,432 TEUs in imports

123,013 TEUs in exports

62,581 TEUs in transhipment moves

16,925 TEUs in restows

34,710 TEUs in barge movements

The port is projected to handle over 500,000 TEUs by the end of 2025, with transhipment already accounting for 38% of total activity, a clear signal of its growing hub status.

Currently operating at about 50% of its designed capacity, the port’s growth trajectory remains strong.

The port facility comprises three container berths, three liquid bulk berths, and one dry bulk berth, with dry bulk and liquid terminal operations set to expand. While barge operations are growing, rail connectivity—particularly via the planned Lagos Green Line—will be critical for long-term efficiency and for supporting industrial activities within the Lekki Free Zone.

Lekki Port’s average berth productivity stands at 18–20 moves per hour, with truck turnaround time of approximately 45 minutes and container dwell time of 12–13 days. It is now Nigeria’s second-largest terminal.

Port Manager Emmanuel Anda has been widely praised for driving operational improvements and innovation. According to Mr. Anda, Lekki Port has effectively recalibrated West Africa’s maritime geography.

“For the first time, Nigeria is efficiently handling ultra-large vessels. Lekki is deepening Nigeria’s presence on global shipping routes and strengthening maritime competitiveness. With sustained growth, Lekki could become a global export hub within 10 to 15 years.”

Exports currently surpass imports, and seamless cargo movement between the seaports and the Dangote Refinery reflects the efficiency of port automation, marine operations, barging, and pilotage services.

The Federal Government estimates that Lekki Deep Sea Port will generate over 170,000 direct and indirect jobs during its 45-year concession period. The project is expected to contribute approximately $158 billion in revenue and $361 billion to Nigeria’s GDP.

As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opens new trade corridors, Lekki Port offers what is rare in the region: scale, speed, and unmatched efficiency. Amid rising demand for deep-water logistics and capacity constraints in neighbouring countries, Lekki provides Africa with a powerful competitive edge.

On any given day, towering cranes, massive vessels, and a steady flow of containers paint a picture of mechanical precision. Yet beneath this choreography lies something even more significant—a new economic epicentre rising along Nigeria’s coastline, redefining the future of trade, logistics, and industrial growth in West Africa.