NPA 2025 Report Reveals Export-Led Trade Expansion, Signaling Progress in FG Economic Diversification.

NPA 2025 Report Reveals Export-Led Trade Expansion, Signaling Progress in FG Economic Diversification..

By Joe Njoku, Global Freight News Magazine

Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded a historic surge in activity in 2025, driven by increased cargo throughput, rising container traffic, and a growing export footprints –a development that underscores the federal government’s commitment to economic diversification, according to the 2025 Operational Performance Report released by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

The report emphasised that the Managing Director of the authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, discribed the growth as one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history, noting that the milestone strengthens the country’s position as a more competitive and strategic player in regional and global trade.

While imports continue to dominate overall cargo traffic, the report highlights a steady rise in outward trade, with exponents accounting for 39.0 per cent of total cargo throughput. Inward traffic represented 59.2 per cent, and transhipment contributed 1.8 percent. Analysts view the growth export volume as a direct validation of the federal government’s economic diversification initiatives, aimed at reducing defence on crude oil and promoting the non-oil sector exports.

Containerized cargo, a key indicator of export trade activity, grew significantly. Total container traffic increased by 25.7 percent, surpassing 2.1 million Twenty foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Of this, export containers grew by 32.8 percent. The report also noted a remarkable 205.8 percent increase in transhipment containers, signaling Nigeria’s emergence as a pivotal regional logistics and trade hub.