Lekki Port Operates At 50% Capacity

The management of the Lekki Deep Sea Port said the seaport now operates at almost half of its designed operational capacity, with steady month-on-month growth in container throughput since September,

LEADERSHIP reports that between Q1 and Q3 2025, Lekki Port handled an estimated N13.46 trillion in total trade value, combining imports and exports, making it Nigeria’s second-largest port by trade value.

However, speaking during an end-of-the-year media parley with journalists on Tuesday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Wang Qiang, disclosed that the port is now operating at close to 50 per cent capacity, reflecting increasing confidence by shipping lines and cargo owners in Nigeria’s first deep seaport.

“We already reached 50 per cent of our capacity now – almost 50 per cent of the port capacity,” he said, noting consistent improvement in the number of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled monthly.

He, however, emphasised that efficient multimodal connectivity remains critical to sustaining and accelerating growth at the port, revealing that barge operations have become a vital evacuation channel and currently account for about 10 per cent of cargo movement from the port.

Wang opined that the ongoing Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project would help ease congestion and improve access to the port but stressed that rail connectivity remains essential, particularly given the scale of industrial activities emerging within the Lekki corridor.

“I believe the train option is something the government is concerned about, and with the level of industrial activities in this region, we expect that it will be provided,” he said.

While reiterating that Lekki Port is a fully automated terminal, Wang asserted that delays may persist until all stakeholders, including government agencies, fully align with end-to-end digital processes.

He explained that Customs procedures, particularly physical cargo examinations, and other port services must be fully digitalised to reduce cargo dwell time significantly.

“For automation to work efficiently, all players must be ready – customers, government and every stakeholder. Only then can we have a fantastic system,” Wang added.

He also stressed that improved connectivity would allow the port to effectively double capacity through performance optimisation without expanding its physical footprint.

Commenting on the new tax regime expected to take effect in 2026, he urged the government to adopt a simplified tax framework that supports ease of doing business. He cited Germany and other countries that allow a 30-day window for clearing goods from ports, with the remittance of value-added tax (VAT) being the primary focus.