NPA Port Modernisation, NSW as catalysts for a new era of trade

Nigeria’s maritime sector, the gateway through which more than 80% of the nation’s international trade flows, is undergoing a radical transformation, Suleiman Idris takes a look at the port modernization led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho.

Anchored on port modernisation, digital trade facilitation and institutional reform, the new maritime policy direction is designed to reposition Nigeria’s seaports as competitive hubs within the global maritime ecosystem.

Last week, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) released its 2025 report showing that the nation’s maritime sector has seen a historic surge in activity, driven by increased cargo volume, increased container traffic and a growing export footprint – a development that underlines the federal government’s commitment to economic diversification.

The 2025 operational performance report published by the NPA revealed that the total volume of cargo handled increased by 24.8%, from approximately 103.6 million tonnes in 2024 to over 129.3 million tonnes in 2025.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, described the growth as one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history, stressing that this milestone strengthens the country’s position as the most competitive and strategic player in regional and global trade. The exceptional performance did not happen overnight, but is the result of the federal government’s transformative reforms. For decades, the nation’s ports have struggled with many constraints.

However, President Bola Tinubu is reversing the trend through an ambitious reform program spearheaded by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Adegboyega Oyetola and implemented largely by the Nigerian Ports Authority under the leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho.

At the heart of the reform strategy are two interconnected initiatives: the comprehensive modernization of Nigeria’s port infrastructure and the implementation of the National One Stop Shop (NSW), a digital platform designed to streamline trade documentation and eliminate bureaucratic delays. Prior to the departure of the NSW flag, the NPA has put structures in place and is fully ready.

The NPA, being a key player in the NSW initiative, has fully aligned its operational processes with the NSW platform. To support this, the NPA served on the NSW Committee, which worked with the NSW Project Team, KPMG and Crimson-Logic. These engagements have focused on ensuring seamless integration of the Authority’s Tax Invoice Management System (RIMS 2.0) with the NSW architecture.

Several strategic, operational and technical decisions have been made to align current processes with the national framework. In line with Phase 1 of the NSW go-live, the NPA participated in a series of technical and strategic engagements with the NSW project team and implementation partners, completed initial user acceptance testing (UAT), the inauguration of the NSW Transition Committee, and the development and delivery of all required system endpoints (integration codes) to enable process alignment between the NPA and NSW platforms. Together, these initiatives represent one of the most far-reaching attempts to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector and position it as a key driver of national growth.

Nigeria’s ports have long been central to the country’s economic architecture. Yet for many years they have been constrained by infrastructure degradation and operational inefficiencies.

Experts estimate that Nigeria loses more than $1 trillion a year due to a lack of port automation and modern infrastructure, as congestion, delays and administrative duplication increase logistics costs for businesses and discourage shipping companies.