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By Steve Agbota
Since it began transshipment operations in 2023, the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport has moved over 40,000 TEUs across West African ports, nearly half of that in just the first six months of 2025.
This was disclosed when the Port emerged as a beacon of progress in Nigeria’s maritime sector at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Freight Forwarders Group Conference held in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The high-level forum brought together policymakers, port operators, Customs officials, freight forwarders, and trade facilitators to address critical bottlenecks within Nigeria’s logistics ecosystem under the theme: “From Ports to Prosperity: Fixing the Links in Nigeria’s Supply Chain.”
During a panel session, Mr. Daniel Odibe, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Lekki Port, spotlighted the port’s growing role in unlocking transshipment value for West Africa.
“Since we began transshipment operations in June 2023, we’ve moved over 40,000 TEUs across West African ports, nearly half of that in just the first six months of 2025. With a 16.5-meter draft and super-post-Panamax cranes, Lekki Port can receive the largest vessels in the world and discharge cargo swiftly. This saves shipping lines both time and cost.
“Lekki Port is not just operational, it is exemplary. We are already working with agencies and partners to scale transhipment into landlocked countries and reduce overall port dwell time. Seamless systems are not a luxury; they are a necessity,” Odibe noted.
According to him, with strong inter-agency cooperation and cutting-edge infrastructure already in place, Lekki Port’s performance continues to set a new standard for port efficiency in the sub-region.
In his remarks, Oluwafemi Omonayin, Assistant Director, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, echoed industry sentiment with a resounding endorsement of the port’s performance.
“Even recently, we were at your port and saw what you put on the ground—most of your operational activities are seamless,” he said.
Dr. Ikenna Nwosu, Deputy Chairman, LCCI Freight Forwarders Trade Group and Managing Director, Cobita Invest Limited, also commended Lekki Port for connecting the movement of transit cargo. “Your scanning machine takes 30 seconds to scan a container. That’s real efficiency,” he said while moderating the event. Beyond the plaudits, several speakers cited Lekki Port as a case study in aligning infrastructure investment with national trade facilitation goals.
Discussions touched on the importance of multimodal connectivity, rail, road, barge and the port’s positioning within the larger AfCFTA context to serve landlocked African countries.
The LCCI conference served as a dynamic forum to explore gaps in Nigeria’s freight forwarding and Customs value chain, with participants calling for the replication of Lekki Port’s “smart port” model across the country.
