Lekki Deep Sea Port has recorded an estimated ₦13.46 trillion in combined import and export trade value within the first nine months of this year, a landmark achievement that underscores the rapid ascent of Nigeria’s newest deep-water port and its growing influence on the nation’s trade ecosystem.
The figure, covering the period from the first to the third quarter, reflects the pace at which Lekki Port has scaled operations since beginning commercial activities barely two years ago.
The facility was built to handle large vessels, improve cargo efficiency and reposition Nigeria as a competitive maritime gateway for West Africa.
Speaking during an end-of-year media parley on Tuesday, the Managing Director of Lekki Port (LFTZ) Enterprise Limited, Wang Qiang, described the ₦13.46 trillion trade value as a clear indication of rising confidence among global shipping lines and cargo owners.
He noted that container volumes have grown steadily since September, helping the port reach approximately 50 per cent of its installed capacity far earlier than many analysts anticipated.
According to Wang, this strong performance has officially elevated Lekki Deep Sea Port to the position of Nigeria’s second-largest port by trade value, a significant milestone in a sector traditionally dominated by much older facilities.
The achievement highlights the impact of modern infrastructure, deeper draught and automation in attracting high-value cargo and international operators.
The Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Captain Jedrzej Mierzewski, said the numbers place Lekki well ahead of Tin Can Island Port, which recorded ₦9.31 trillion in trade value over the same period, and nearly double the ₦6.76 trillion posted by Onne Port.
He stressed that reaching such a level of market relevance within two years of operation is unprecedented in Nigeria’s maritime history.
Captain Mierzewski added that while the port’s growth trajectory is encouraging, the next phase of development must focus on strengthening connectivity.
He explained that about ten per cent of cargo currently moves through barges, providing an important alternative to road haulage and helping to mitigate Lagos’s chronic traffic congestion.
Wang identified several infrastructure gaps that must be addressed to sustain momentum, including the completion of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road, which is expected to significantly ease pressure on existing road networks.
He also described rail connectivity as essential to support the scale of industrial activity emerging along the Lekki corridor.
Although the port itself is fully automated, he warned that delays will persist unless all government agencies, particularly Customs, fully adopt integrated digital processes across the cargo clearance chain.
As Nigeria prepares for a new tax regime in 2026, Mierzewski urged the Federal Government to introduce a simplified and predictable framework to enhance the ease of doing business at the ports.
He pointed to international practices, such as in Germany, where importers are granted a thirty-day window to remit value-added tax after cargo clearance, arguing that similar measures would improve efficiency and investor confidence.