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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The $1.5 billion Lekki Deepsea Port which commenced operations in April 2023 with a capacity to process about 1.2 million cargoes annually continues to receive commendation for various operational milestones it has achieved within so short a time. Parading the draught of 16.5 metres, the deepest of ports under the superintendence of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), it sits on a 19- hectare land area, a recent facility tour by Police authorities has revealed.
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‎The tour which commenced at Lekki Deep Sea Port, had the Police authorities  received by the Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Weiliang Zhong, alongside NPA Port Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Anda and other senior officials.
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‎So far, the Lekki Deepsea Port has successfully transhipped over 62,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) to various West African countries;  its smart port model is unique in Nigeria while the short turnaround time for vessels stands at just 2 days. The physical layout of the Port has a 2 kilometres breakwater ridge which calms the waves from the harbour with a 9.6 kilometre channel providing the way for the 4 tug boats used by the Port to bring in the large vessels that drop  cargoes.
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‎The Port has a  680m quay length, with a breakwater of 2km for the Phase 1 operations. Upon expansion to Phase 2, the quayway will be extended to 1,500m, and the depth will become minus 19.5meters in the near future.
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‎The Port’s  development was made possible through a 45-year Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model from the NPA.
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‎The scanners only need about 33 seconds to scan a container as soon as the 5 gantry (ship to shore cranes) have  done the usual evacuation. The stacking method follows the 7 wide , 6 heights system. Moving à container from ship to shore takes a maximum of 3 minutes and presently, about 20% of the cargoes are evacuated through barges. The Port’s integrated automated operations makes business easier for port users.
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‎From January to August 2025, the port recorded 88,432 TEU imports, 123,013 TEU exports, 62,581 TEU transshipment moves, 16,925 TEU restows, and 34,710 TEU barge movements with a projection to handle over 500,000 TEUs by end of 2025. Transshipment already represents 38 per cent of total activity, signalling the port’s growing hub status.
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‎Mr Emmanuel Anda, the Lekki Port Manager, has been commended for contributing to  improve operational services at the port . This has seen the Port engage in various innovative operational methods involving the transshipment of cargoes. The Port has evolved into a strategic maritime gateway, reshaping the logistics landscape of West Africa and opening new corridors for trade and industrial ambition across the continent.
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‎The port facility includes three container berths, three liquid bulk berths and one dry bulk berth. The dry bulk and liquid terminal operations are in view. The Port is presently operating at about 50% of its designed capacity. Barge operations currently account for 20% of cargo movement, but rail connectivity is essential for long-term efficiency, particularly with the Lekki Free Zone’s industrial activities.
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‎Lekki Port’s technological design integrates automated gates, OCR systems, ship-to-shore cranes, rubber- tyred gantry cranes, FS 6000 drive-through scanners, truck parks, and advanced control systems.
‎Its berth productivity averages 18 to 20 moves per hour, with truck turnaround time at approximately 45 minutes and container dwell time at 12 to 13 days. The Port is currently Nigeria’s second-largest terminal.
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‎In agreement with the NPA, Mr Emmanuel Anda, Lekki Deepsea Port’s Manager, admits that the transformational impact has recalibrated West Africa’s maritime geography.
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‎“For the first time, Nigeria is handling ultra-large vessels efficiently; Lekki is deepening Nigeria’s presence on global shipping routes and strengthening our maritime competitiveness. He said that the port was significantly boosting export activity, helping Nigeria approach a healthier balance of trade.
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‎”The continued progression could see Lekki become a global export hub within 10 to 15 years”. Mr. Anda added.
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‎Road infrastructure upgrades are ongoing, and the planned Lagos Green Line rail connection will significantly boost cargo evacuation and accessibility.
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‎In the wider West African theatre, where the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is opening unprecedented opportunities, Lekki Deep Sea Port offers something rare: scale, speed and unmatched efficiency.
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‎Amid capacity constraints in neighbouring countries and rising demand for deep-water logistics, Lekki gives Africa a competitive edge. On an ordinary day, containers rise like a new skyline, cranes swing rhythmically over the quayside, and massive ships glide into position. Beneath the mechanical precision is something more profound: a new economic centre is being born on the Nigerian coastline.
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‎Presently, exports are surpassing imports, there is free-flowing cargo movement in and out of the seaports and Dangote Refinery, plus port automation—including marine operations like the 4 tugboats and efficient barging—the story centres on seamless activities within the pilotage district.
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‎With great enthusiasm, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola has said the Federal Government estimates that more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created over the 45-year concession period including revenue contributions of 158 billion dollars, alongside 361 billion dollars in national GDP.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎In a renewed effort to add more bite and ensure strict compliance to laws and regulations guiding Nigeria’s freight forwarding industry, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) will, come January 30, relaunch and recommission her Compliance Team at its new office location at Eleganza Plaza, Apapa.
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‎Mr Bartholomew Okeke, Chief of Staff to the NAGAFF Compliance Team, disclosed this in Apapa, Tuesday.
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‎Mr. Okeke explained that the Compliance Team, inaugurated in February 2021, serves as NAGAFF’s enforcement and intervention arm.
‎The interventionist body executes legitimate directives of the National President to ensure that freight forwarders and relevant government agencies comply with extant rules and regulations.
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‎“Where there is infringement from either practitioners or government agencies, we intervene. That is why it is called the Compliance Team. We are not confrontational by default; we are interventionist,” he said.
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‎ Following the takeover of the former office by the plaza management for other uses, he explained, it became necessary to relocate to another block within the same complex. So, the exercise goes beyond reopening an office.
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‎“We are not just recommissioning an office; we are relaunching ourselves more forcefully. We want people to know that we are not just back—we are forward-looking and fully committed to ensuring that all extant laws guiding the freight forwarding industry are strictly observed,” Okeke stated.
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‎On challenges faced by the Compliance Team in the past, Okeke identified non-compliance by both operators and some government agency personnel, often driven by personal interests.
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‎“There are people among government agencies who are out for their own pockets. When we confront such issues head-on with facts and institutional backing, they comply. We are connected to relevant authorities and we escalate issues of non-compliance appropriately,” he said. He assured that going forward, the Compliance Team plans to adopt a more engagement-driven approach rather than confrontation.

‎“The next phase is deeper engagement with agencies and stakeholders. It’s not all about fighting; it’s about facilitating trade. We want practical engagement, dialogue, and a think-tank approach to address challenges head-on,” he explained.
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‎On the level of compliance in the industry, Okeke said automation and reduced human interference have improved adherence to procedures, placing compliance at about 60 percent.
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‎“It’s not satisfactory yet, but we are moving forward. Our target is at least 90 percent compliance. There is no foolproof system, but our job is to educate, re-educate, and ensure reasonable compliance,” he added.
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‎ Being the umbrella body of freight forwarders in Nigeria, NAGAFF boasts of the largest membership in the sector, he reaffirmed.
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‎“When NAGAFF speaks, the industry listens. We represent the industry optimally,” he said, adding that continuous training remains central to the association’s philosophy of operating strictly on the side of the law.
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‎ Okeke recalled NAGAFF’s opposition to arbitrary increases in terminal and shipping line charges, including protests and engagements with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council that led to stakeholder meetings and moderated outcomes.
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‎“We do not shy away from defending our members and the economy. Whenever there are arbitrary charges, we are at the front line,” he explained.
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‎NAGAFF has over 1,000 members across various chapters nationwide, with the Compliance Team present in all major ports.
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‎Following the recommissioning, the Compliance Team plans to embark on advocacy visits to the Eastern Ports and Port Harcourt to reinforce its message of compliance and alliance-building.
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‎“There must always be room for discipline. We are the mirror of NAGAFF, and we must uphold its image,” Okeke said.
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‎Friday’s recommissioning ceremony will be graced by top dignitaries including the NAGAFF National President, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, the Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the Board of Trustees Chairman, Customs representatives, and other key stakeholders.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎All shipping companies, shipping agents, and terminals operating within Nigerian ports have been given marching orders  to suspend and discontinue the implementation of any review or upward adjustment of their charges until they have fully engaged their stakeholders.
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‎This is contained in a release by Rebecca Adamu, Head of Public Relations of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigeria’s Ports Economic Regulator.
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‎The Nigerian Shippers’ Council clarifies that the recent adjustment was approved strictly in accordance with her statutory mandate as the Port Economic Regulator in which case all tariff reviews were conducted in a transparent, structured, and well-defined regulatory process.

‎”These processes included detailed technical and consultative engagement with affected service providers aimed at examining the cost drivers, operational realities, investment obligations and regulatory compliance.”
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‎”The engagements did not constitute automatic approvals; rather, they informed a broader evaluative process. Final determinations were reached only after rigorous internal, technical, and financial assessments guided by empirical evidence, regulatory benchmarks, and prevailing economic conditions.”
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‎”Notwithstanding, shipping companies, agents, and terminal operators are hereby directed to suspend any intended review of charges until they have duly consulted and engaged their stakeholders. As the Port Economic Regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council will wield the big stick against any port service providers disrupting port operations”, the statement warned.
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‎The Council emphasised that transparency, fairness, and stakeholder participation are fundamental principles underpinning port economic regulation in Nigeria.
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‎The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr. Pius Akutah (MON), further warned that the Council is empowered under its regulatory mandate to apply appropriate sanctions against defaulting operators, including enforcement measures provided for under relevant regulatory frameworks. He encourages constructive engagement, dialogue, and compliance.
‎Any service provider that proceeds with charge reviews without stakeholders’ engagement should be prepared to face decisive regulatory action.
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‎He assured that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council remains committed to protecting the interests of port users, promoting fair competition and ensuring a balanced and predictable business environment within the Nigerian maritime industry.
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