Nigeria’s maritime industry closed 2025 with notable gains and clear warnings about the work ahead. Official figures and an independent assessment by the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) show zero recorded piracy incidents across Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea, faster ship turnaround at Lagos ports and double-digit non-oil export growth. At the same time, persistent cargo dwell times and high operational costs threaten to blunt those advances unless policymakers and industry leaders act swiftly.
Nigerian maritime sector outlook for 2026
SEREC described 2025 as a transition year in which policy articulation and institutional repositioning set the stage for reforms. Collaboration between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Navy and licensed private security operators contributed to the zero piracy outcome. The achievement coincided with Nigeria’s election to the International Maritime Organisation Category C Council and continued compliance with key safety instruments.
Operational improvements were tangible. Average ship turnaround times at Lagos ports improved by an estimated 10 to 15 per cent. Truck round-trip times fell from several days to between 24 and 48 hours in controlled corridors after the Electronic Truck Call-Up system reduced congestion. Non-oil exports rose by double-digit percentages, offering early proof that maritime trade can support broader economic diversification.
Customs modernisation drove many of the short-term disruptions and long-term changes. The Nigeria Customs Service migrated from NICIS II to the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, producing temporary system downtime and processing slowdowns during deployment. Structural upgrades included deployment of non-intrusive inspection scanners, expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator programme, operationalisation of Advance Ruling and the introduction of geo-spatial surveillance and truck tracking. SEREC called the modernisation disruptive but strategically irreversible.
Yet several performance gaps remain. Average cargo dwell time still sits between 10 and 18 days, well above the 7 to 10 days seen in Lome and Tema ports and far from global best practice. Multiple agency inspections, duplicated documentation and partial automation with overlapping systems prolong clearance. The National Single Window remains largely at pilot stages, limiting expected reductions in clearance time and transaction costs.
Cost competitiveness is a central concern. Terminal handling and other charges are estimated at 30 to 40 per cent higher than comparable regional ports. Arbitrary levies, overlapping fees and a newly implemented 4 per cent FOB charge increase import costs and have contributed to cargo diversion and the loss of trans-shipment status to neighbouring ports.
Intermodal transport integration also lags. Rail evacuation accounts for less than 5 per cent of port cargo movement and inland waterway and pipeline logistics remain underdeveloped. Without functional intermodal links, ports will continue to face higher logistics costs and congestion risks.
Macroeconomic instability, particularly foreign exchange volatility, was identified as the single most destabilising factor in 2025. With more than 80 per cent of maritime transactions denominated in foreign currency, currency stability matters for predictable duties, investor confidence and import throughput.
SEREC’s scorecard rated policy direction as strong and institutional visibility as improved, while cost competitiveness was weak and investor confidence cautious. The centre concluded that 2026 will be decisive, dependent on consolidation of port automation, operationalisation of the National Single Window, tangible reductions in port costs, functional intermodal integration and sustained maritime security.
For Nigeria to translate 2025’s foundations into durable competitiveness, regulators, private operators and international partners must turn policy commitments into measurable outcomes next year.
Key Takeaways:
- Nigerian maritime sector achieved zero piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in 2025, reflecting strengthened security collaboration.
- Ship turnaround improved by 10–15 per cent and non-oil exports recorded double-digit growth, signalling rising trade performance.
- Major challenges remain: cargo dwell times of 10–18 days and port costs 30–40 per cent above regional competitors.
- Customs modernisation and National Single Window progress are disruptive but irreversible, making 2026 pivotal for consolidation.
