The Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, has recorded 4.4 per cent increase in cargo throughput in 2025, handling 21,997,773 metric tonnes compared with 21,069,745 metric tonnes in 2024.
The General Manager of the port, Mr Debo Lawal, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Lawal attributed the improved performance to enhanced operational efficiency, infrastructure upgrades and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
He said export cargo also rose by 3.8 per cent to 19,528,636 metric tonnes in 2025 from 18,806,306 metric tonnes recorded in 2024.
According to him, container throughput surged by 34 per cent to 800,943 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025 from 598,177 TEUs handled in the preceding year.
Lawal credited the improved performance to reforms introduced under the leadership of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, and his management team.
He also commended the NPA for expanding the number of export terminals from five to 10, describing the move as a major boost to export logistics.
The port manager further commeded the Nigeria Customs Service for designating the Lilypond Export Command as the central processing hub for export documentation.
According to him, centralising export processing at Lilypond has reduced delays, lowered costs and improved turnaround time for exporters.
“We now give export products priority. Exporters have access to the port at any time without delays.
“This policy is encouraging more Nigerians to participate in non-oil exports,” he said.
Lawal urged importers and exporters to comply with international standards on documentation and packaging to minimise cargo rejection and interception in international markets.
He added that the port had prioritised the evacuation of perishable export cargo to prevent spoilage, noting that stronger collaboration with regulatory agencies had significantly reduced rejection rates.
Lawal reaffirmed the commitment of NPA to sustaining the growth through automation, improved port access infrastructure and stronger collaboration with government agencies to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade.
