Fed Govt bolsters national economy through NPA

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) bolsters the national economy through record trade facilitation, infrastructural development, and key operational efficiencies.

A fresh $60 million investment in green port initiatives by the President Bola Tinubu administration is set to transform the NPA’s operations, driving a renewed focus on local content development.

Recent data from 2025 has shown an unprecedented growth, positioning Nigeria’s ports as crucial hubs for economic prosperity.

Findings revealed that the NPA has significantly contributed to the  nation’s economy through various avenues. Sustained efficiencies have led to Nigeria’s international trade reaching N5.81 trillion in the third quarter of 2024, resulting in a significant trade surplus. In Q3 2025, export-laden container volumes saw a substantial increase, and total cargo throughput rose by 16.2 per cent. The agency also made a notable contribution of N400.8 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in 2024, nearly doubling the previous year’s remittance.

The operationalisation of the Dangote Refinery’s Single Point Mooring (SPM) system is anticipated to attract a large number of vessels annually, further boosting revenue. Additionally, the NPA’s support in implementing the presidential mandate to trade petroleum in Naira has helped conserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves and enhance energy security.

By integrating Nigeria into the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA) and championing the National Single Window project, NPA has ushered in a new era of transparency. His visionary leadership was recently honored with the Award of Excellence for his role in modernizing maritime infrastructure.

The NPA’s achievements in 2025, stakeholders said, are a clear indication  to the Federal Government focus on excellence and innovation through its agencies.

These sustainability efforts are backed by record-breaking performance metrics.

In the third quarter of 2025 alone, the Authority saw export-laden container volumes skyrocket by 1,085per cent, while total cargo throughput climbed by 16.2%, marking a stellar period of maritime growth.

Container operations were a key driver of this growth, with total container traffic rising by 18.9% to 546,931 TEUs.

Import-laden containers also witnessed an increase by 33.1per cent to 268,713 TEUs, while export-laden containers jumped to 69,039 TEUs from 5,812 TEUs in Q3 2024.

“The sharp rise in export containers also led to a 21.5per cent reduction in empty container traffic, signalling improved balance between imports and exports and stronger non-oil export activity,” according to operational data released by NPA in December.

Ship traffic also saw significant growth, with vessel calls up by 8.4per cent to 1,074 ships and total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) rising by 18per cent to 42.64 million.

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Lekki Deep Seaport emerged as the dominant growth driver, handling 46.8per cent of total cargo, followed by Onne Port with 17per cent. In terms of vessel size, Lekki Port received the largest ships, with an average GRT of 57,244.

Attributing the strong performance to the Federal Government’s export-driven economic reforms and growing investor confidence, Dantsoho said: “The figures reflect improved operational efficiency across all pilotage districts,” he said.