Lekki deep seaport begins cargo transhipment to West African countries

The $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport has commenced international transhipment of cargo to neighbouring West African countries including Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, marking a significant milestone in its operations.

Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Odibe, announced the development on Thursday in Lagos, noting that the port aims to scale up operations from the 287,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) handled in 2024 to 500,000 TEUs by the end of 2025.

However, he revealed that the port is currently operating at only 20 percent of its full capacity of 1.2 million TEUs.

Odibe attributed the reduced cargo throughput to economic challenges, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the depreciation of the Naira, which led to a sharp drop in imports in 2024.

He noted that trade volumes have begun to rebound, with 222,000 TEUs already processed in the first half of 2025.

“Despite the setbacks last year, we are witnessing a steady recovery,” he said.

“Lekki Port currently handles 10 to 12 vessels monthly, and transhipment activities to both coastal and landlocked countries are increasing.”

He further highlighted the port’s growing regional significance, stating that vessel turnaround time stands at 48 hours, while trucks average just 1 hour and 25 minutes within the terminal.

Speaking on the port’s vision, Managing Director Wang Qiang—represented by Chief Operating Officer Young Qiang—reaffirmed Lekki Port’s commitment to international standards.

“We are pushing boundaries and deploying advanced technology to ensure operational excellence.

“Our goal is to position Lekki Port as a leading maritime hub in West Africa,” he said.

Lekki Port’s expansion into regional transhipment is expected to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade and strengthen its role in West Africa’s maritime logistics network.