Nigeria must significantly expand its port capacity and improve maritime efficiency to support its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Maritime lawyer and industry expert, Barrister Emeka Akabogu who said this while delivering the keynote address at the Unity Conference of the Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ), noted that current growth in cargo and container traffic would fall short of the capacity required to sustain the targeted economic expansion.
Speaking on the theme, “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue,” he said Nigeria would need to handle about 5.3 million containers annually to support a $1 trillion economy, compared with the estimated 3.6 million containers projected by 2030 if current growth trends persist.
He said Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) data showed that container traffic increased from about 1.6 million in 2023 to 1.75 million in 2024 and 2.1 million in 2025, indicating growth but leaving a significant gap between current capacity and the projected requirement.
Akabogu said the country needed substantial improvements in export capacity, port operations and maritime infrastructure to achieve its economic target, stressing that increased trade volumes must be supported by efficient ports and adequate shipping capacity.
He also identified vessel turnaround time as a major factor affecting port efficiency and profitability, arguing that Nigeria needed to reduce the time vessels spend in port to a maximum of 3.3 days.
According to him, faster vessel turnaround would improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and enable ports to handle more cargo.
He further called for increased vessel capacity, noting that Nigeria had about 325 active Nigerian-registered vessels, while the country’s requirements could reach at least 920.
The maritime expert said the number of vessels needed would be even more significant when the country’s domestic cargo movement and export ambitions were considered.
Akabogu also raised concerns about the quality of available maritime industry data, saying inadequate statistics made it difficult to accurately assess the sector’s performance and determine the capacity required for future growth.
He urged stakeholders to focus on measurable indicators, including container traffic, cargo throughput, vessel calls, turnaround time and shipping capacity, in evaluating the readiness of Nigeria’s ports to support the $1 trillion economic ambition.
The keynote speaker also proposed that the NNMJ establish a code of standards and practice to define membership requirements and maintain professional standards within the network.
Earlier, NNMJ Chairman, Dele Aderibigbe, said maritime journalists had responsibilities beyond reporting industry activities, including investigating, educating the public, interrogating policies and holding institutions accountable.
He said the media must also provide platforms for informed discussions capable of producing meaningful reforms, while maintaining professional engagement with government agencies and private-sector operators.
Aderibigbe called on government institutions and industry players to recognise the media as a strategic partner in maritime development, rather than regarding journalists only as critics.
He said the network was committed to promoting responsible maritime journalism and contributing to policies, accountability and the development of a globally competitive Nigerian port system.
The conference brought together government representatives, maritime industry operators, professionals and media practitioners to discuss port modernisation, trade facilitation and revenue generation.