Lekki Deep Seaport Reaches 50% Operational Capacity

The Lekki Deep Seaport has reported reaching nearly half of its designed operational capacity, with consistent month-on-month growth in container throughput since September.

Mr. Wang Qiang, Managing Director and CEO of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, shared the update during an end-of-year media briefing at the port on Tuesday.

Wang noted that the port is now operating at close to 50 percent capacity, reflecting growing confidence from shipping lines and cargo owners in Nigeria’s first deep seaport. “We already reached almost 50 per cent of our port capacity now,” he said, highlighting a steady increase in the number of twenty-foot equivalent units handled each month.

He emphasised that efficient multimodal connectivity is crucial for sustaining and accelerating growth. Barge operations, in particular, have become a key evacuation channel. Wang also pointed to the ongoing Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project, which is expected to ease congestion and improve access to the port.

Rail connectivity remains a priority, especially given the scale of industrial activity developing in the Lekki corridor. “With the level of industrial activities in this region, we expect the train option to be provided,” he added.

While reiterating that Lekki Port is a fully automated terminal, Wang acknowledged that delays may still occur until all stakeholders, including government agencies, fully align with end-to-end digital processes. Customs procedures, such as physical cargo examinations, need full digitalisation to significantly reduce cargo dwell times. “We must work closely with customers and all operations for automation to yield results,” he said.

He further explained that integration between the customs system, the terminal operating system, and customers is already part of a scheduled implementation plan. “For automation to work efficiently, all players—customers, government, and stakeholders—must be ready. Only then can we have a fantastic system,” Wang added.

Improved connectivity, he noted, could allow the port to effectively double its capacity through performance optimisation without expanding its physical footprint.

Located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, within the Lagos Free Zone, the Lekki Deep Seaport is Nigeria’s first deep-sea port and one of West Africa’s largest maritime infrastructure projects. The media tour included visits to the customs examination area, scanners, and shipside operations.