Lagos Ports Account For 84.6% Of Nigeria’s N41.4tn Trade
Lagos ports handled an estimated N35.07 trillion worth of Nigeria’s merchandise trade in the second quarter of 2026, accounting for about 84.6 per cent of the country’s total trade valued at N41.44 trillion.
The latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria’s merchandise trade during the quarter comprised N27.02 trillion in exports and N14.42 trillion in imports.
The figures further highlighted Lagos’ dominance as Nigeria’s major gateway for international trade, with Apapa Port, Lekki Deep Sea Port and Tin Can Island accounting for the bulk of the transactions.
The three ports collectively handled about N34.90 trillion in exports and imports during the period.
Apapa Port recorded the highest trade volume at N25.53 trillion, comprising N19.07 trillion in exports and N6.46 trillion in imports.
Lekki Deep Sea Port followed with N6.64 trillion, made up of N5.03 trillion in exports and N1.61 trillion in imports, while Tin Can Island handled N2.90 trillion, comprising N726.92 billion in exports and N2.17 trillion in imports.
On the export side, Apapa maintained its position as the country’s leading gateway, handling N19.07 trillion, representing 70.57 per cent of total exports recorded during the quarter.
Lekki Deep Sea Port followed with N5.03 trillion, accounting for 18.62 per cent of exports.
Combined, the two ports accounted for 89.19 per cent of exports recorded among the leading customs ports and posts.
Apapa also led on the import side, with N6.46 trillion worth of imports, representing 44.76 per cent of Nigeria’s total imports during the quarter.
Tin Can Island ranked second with N2.17 trillion, equivalent to 15.07 per cent, while Lekki Deep Sea Port recorded N1.61 trillion, representing 11.15 per cent of total imports.
The data underscores the heavy concentration of Nigeria’s international trade activities around Lagos, where the major ports continue to serve as the country’s principal gateways for the movement of goods.
Other ports also recorded significant trade volumes during the period.
Port Harcourt Area-1 handled about N1.40 trillion in combined exports and imports, comprising N1.17 trillion in exports and N229.77 billion in imports.
The Onne facility recorded approximately N2 trillion in trade, with exports valued at N802.72 billion and imports put at N1.20 trillion.
The distribution of trade across the various ports highlights the strategic importance of Nigeria’s seaports to the national economy and the continued dominance of Lagos in the country’s maritime and commercial activities.
