Historic Surge in Cargo Signals Maritime Transformation

Nigeria’s maritime sector, which handles over 80% of the country’s international trade, is experiencing a major overhaul under the leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.

The NPA’s 2025 Operational Performance Report reveals a record-breaking 24.8% increase in total cargo throughput, rising from 103.6 million metric tons in 2024 to 129.3 million metric tons in 2025. Dr. Dantsoho described this as “one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history,” underscoring the nation’s growing competitiveness in regional and global trade.

Why Port Modernisation Matters

For decades, Nigeria’s ports struggled with congestion, outdated infrastructure, and operational inefficiencies. Experts estimate the country loses over N1 trillion annually due to delays, administrative duplication, and lack of automation. Neighboring ports in Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic have capitalized on modern facilities, diverting cargo that would otherwise pass through Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Adegboyega Oyetola, is reversing this trend through comprehensive port modernisation and the deployment of the National Single Window (NSW) digital platform.

“Efficient ports are indispensable to economic growth. Modernisation will reduce vessel turnaround time, lower freight costs, and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness,” – Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, NPA MD.

Ports Reconstruction and Modern Infrastructure

The federal government is undertaking a major infrastructure renewal at key ports, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar. Projects include:

Upgrading quay walls

Deepening channels

Modernising cargo-handling equipment

Expanding terminal capacity

These upgrades aim to reduce vessel waiting times, accelerate cargo clearance, and cut logistics costs. Early indicators show ship calls exceeding 4,000 vessels and container traffic at 1.74 million TEUs, reflecting rising trade activity.

Digital Transformation Through the National Single Window

The NSW is a digital platform designed to streamline all import, export, and transit documentation through a single portal, eliminating the need to interact with multiple government agencies.

Last week, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila announced the NSW launch for March 27, calling it a “monumental fiscal reform” to improve trade efficiency and Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

 “We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational,” – Femi Gbajabiamila.

NSW aims to:

Reduce cargo dwell time by 35–45%

Cut trade transaction costs by up to 25%

Boost customs revenue by 10–20% annually (an estimated N600 billion to N1.2 trillion)

Integration with NPA systems, including the Revenue Invoice Management System (RIMS 2.0), ensures seamless data sharing and improved accountability.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

Modernised ports and digital trade systems are expected to stimulate economic growth by:

Enhancing export competitiveness

Reducing logistics costs for businesses

Attracting foreign direct investment in shipping, logistics, and manufacturing

Analysts project that a fully operational digital maritime ecosystem could generate over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in logistics and ICT sectors.

Institutional Leadership Driving Change

The NPA has deployed advanced tools like the Port Community System, Vessel Traffic Management System, and digital cargo tracking platforms to support the NSW rollout. In 2024, NPA revenue reached N894.86 billion, with N400.8 billion remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, nearly double the previous year.

The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, led by Adegboyega Oyetola, provides policy direction and regulatory coordination, positioning Nigeria’s ports as a major regional logistics hub.

Looking Ahead: Nigeria’s Maritime Future

With modernised infrastructure and digital integration, Nigeria is poised to become a key maritime hub in West and Central Africa. Ports like Lekki Deep Sea Port are already showing strong growth in container traffic and trans-shipment volumes, signalling a potential regional redistribution role.

If sustained, these reforms could transform Nigeria’s maritime sector into a driver of industrial expansion, trade integration, and long-term economic prosperity, reshaping the country’s role in global trade.

Trade unions from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda have asked the Senegalese government to stop what they describe as “intimidatory acts” against water sector workers, warning that the situation threatens labour rights and the delivery of public services.

They said the pressure allegedly being placed on union leaders, particularly Oumar Ba, risks creating divisions within the sector at a time when many households depend heavily on stable, affordable water access.

Regional unions raise alarm

In a statement issued on 9 December, 15 trade unions and civil society groups said they were “disturbed” by what they described as escalating pressure from SEN’EAU management on Mr Ba, who leads the Autonomous Union of Water Workers of Senegal (SATES).

Mr Ba has been “at the fore of agitation for fair and equitable public water services and the rights of workers,” the groups said.

They accused SEN’EAU of victimising him for “refusing to accept their double dealing and attempt to sideline his union,” while negotiating multi-year agreements with other unions.

Claims of ‘divide and rule’

The groups warned against the introduction of “divide and rule tactics” among unions in Senegal’s public water sector.

They argued that sidelining SATES, which has been a prominent voice on workers’ rights, threatens transparency in a sector that directly affects millions of citizens.

“Even with the growing outrage over what is being unleashed on workers… the Senegalese government has maintained a complicit silence,” the statement read.

Rights concerns

The organisations said the alleged intimidation undermines constitutional freedoms guaranteed under Articles 8 and 10 of Senegal’s Constitution, including the rights to expression, association and collective action.

“No one individual or organisation and not even the government has the right to prevent workers from exercising these rights and liberties,” they said.

Call for government intervention

The coalition urged Senegal’s authorities to conduct “an independent, detailed and transparent review” of SEN’EAU’s management practices.

They said this would help ensure that workers’ rights and public accountability are upheld.

The statement was jointly signed by labour unions from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, including the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations (Nigeria), the Union of Kenya Civil Servants, and the Uganda Public Employees Union.

What’s next

Unions say they expect the government to respond publicly, adding that they remain “resolute in advocating for fair treatment and improved work conditions.”

Observers say the response from Dakar may set a precedent for labour relations in other African public service sectors.

Uganda’s president Yowreri Museveni has introduced sweeping new anti-coronavirus measures including a ban on all vehicular movement except for essential workers to help curb a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the nation.

The country, like most other African peers had been left relatively unscathed by the first wave. It suddenly started experiencing a steep surge in COVID-19 infections last month after authorities confirmed they had detected presence of the Indian coronavirus variant.

“The country has seen a more aggressive and sustained growth of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Museveni said in a televised address

He said the daily number of people testing positive has jumped to over 1,700 from less than 100 just three weeks ago.

“We are experiencing very high hospitalization rates and deaths for COVID-19 patients among all age categories.”

In new measures to curb the pandemic, he banned movement of both public and private vehicles except those transporting patients and those used by essential workers like health workers.

An existing curfew that began at 9 p.m. was brought forward to 7 p.m. while venues like busy shopping centers, churches and sports arenas were closed.

The new restrictions, Museveni said, will last 42 days. To date, Uganda has registered a total of 68,778 COVID-19 cases and 542 deaths.

In the last two weeks local media has extensively reported most health facilities, both public and private, getting full and turning away patients while others have had oxygen supplies taxed.

The new restrictions could undermine a fragile economic recovery from the blow inflicted by last year’s lockdown.

Those restrictions contributed to a 1.1% economic contraction in 2020, but the finance ministry had projected before Friday’s new measures that growth would climb to 4.3% in the fiscal year starting July.