Lekki Deep Sea Port has overtaken Tin Can Island Port to become Nigeria’s second-largest port by trade value, barely three years after commencing operations, signalling a major shift in the country’s maritime trade structure.
Trade data for the first nine months of 2025 show that Lekki has surpassed long-established ports, including Tin Can Island and Port Harcourt (Onne), in combined imports and exports, consolidating its position as the country’s most significant port after Apapa.
Figures from Nigeria’s Trade by Top 10 Posts/Ports of Operation for the first, second and third quarters of 2025 indicate that Lekki handled an estimated ₦13.46 trillion in total trade between January and September. This places it well ahead of Tin Can Island’s ₦9.31 trillion and nearly double the ₦6.76 trillion recorded at Port Harcourt (Onne).
Apapa Port remains Nigeria’s dominant maritime gateway with about ₦74.78 trillion in total trade over the same period. However, Lekki has emerged as the only other port operating at a comparable scale, effectively positioning it as the country’s secondary trade hub.
Unlike some legacy ports that are heavily skewed towards imports, Lekki’s trade profile is relatively balanced. The port recorded ₦7.39 trillion in imports and ₦6.07 trillion in exports during the first nine months of 2025, underscoring its growing role as both an entry point for goods and a platform for outbound trade.
By the end of the third quarter, Lekki’s import performance placed it firmly behind only Apapa Port, which handled ₦22.21 trillion worth of imports. Quarterly figures show a steady and accelerating rise, from ₦1.70 trillion in the first quarter to ₦2.51 trillion in the second quarter and ₦3.18 trillion in the third.
In comparison, Tin Can Island recorded ₦5.83 trillion in imports year-to-date, while Port Harcourt (Onne) stood at ₦3.81 trillion. Analysts note that Lekki’s rapid import growth reflects a gradual rerouting of high-value and containerised cargo away from congested legacy ports to a facility designed for scale, automation and larger vessels.
A similar pattern is emerging on the export side, albeit with a slight lag. Lekki handled ₦6.07 trillion in exports between January and September, making it Nigeria’s second-largest export port behind Apapa, which recorded ₦52.57 trillion.
Export figures rose sharply over the three quarters, from ₦303.6 billion in the first quarter to ₦2.41 trillion in the second and ₦3.36 trillion in the third. While Lekki was still a marginal export hub early in the year, by the third quarter it had become a major conduit for outbound trade, overtaking Tin Can Island and narrowing the gap with Port Harcourt (Onne).
Industry observers say this trajectory mirrors the global pattern for new deep-sea ports, where imports scale up first as shipping lines adjust routes, followed by exports once logistics chains, storage and customs processes realign around the new hub.
Although Apapa continues to dominate Nigeria’s maritime trade, the data suggest a gradual shift in the centre of gravity. Lekki’s growth is absorbing much of the incremental increase in cargo volumes rather than simply diverting traffic from existing ports, particularly for industrial inputs, refined products and large container shipments.
This trend aligns with the federal government’s long-standing objective of decongesting Apapa while maintaining steady trade flows.
Lekki’s rise has also coincided with significant public and private investments aimed at addressing access constraints. Key interventions include the commissioning of a 37-kilometre access road built by the Dangote Group and inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu, as well as Federal Executive Council approval of ₦651.7 billion for the 7th axial road linking the port to southern and northern trade corridors. Other engineering solutions, including lagoon backfilling, are also under consideration to ease potential bottlenecks.
Maritime stakeholders note that a deep-sea port’s competitiveness depends as much on inland connectivity as on quay length and crane capacity. The Q1–Q3 trade figures suggest that recent improvements in evacuation routes are already translating into higher cargo throughput.
With its deep-water capacity for larger vessels, automated operations, proximity to major industrial assets and readiness for next-generation shipping, Lekki Deep Sea Port is increasingly attracting high-value and time-sensitive cargo, accelerating its emergence as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s evolving maritime trade architecture.
