Lekki Deep Sea Port Cuts Into Apapa’s Trade Dominance, New NBS Data Shows
By Aboki Forex —
New data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the Lekki Deep Sea Port is steadily taking cargo volume away from Apapa Port. The Q1 2026 Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics Report reveals a clear shift in how goods move through Nigeria’s major seaports.
Apapa Port remains the country’s largest trade gateway. But its share of both imports and exports has dropped compared to the same period in 2025. The Lekki Deep Sea Port, which started operations in April 2023, is gaining ground fast.
The port serves companies in the Lekki Free Trade Zone. This includes big industrial players like the Dangote Refinery and other manufacturers. As more firms move into that corridor, cargo is following.
Export data shows the change is real. While Apapa still handles the most cargo in absolute terms, the concentration of trade is spreading out. Other ports are also seeing more activity.
For businesses and traders, this means more options and potentially less congestion. The shift is gradual but steady. Nigeria’s maritime trade network is no longer a one-port show.