The Nigerian Ports Authority, through its Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said vehicle imports through Nigerian ports rose 42.5 per cent in the first half of 2026, a rise that Abayomi Duyile, Apapa chapter chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, and Dr Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, linked to a cut in import levies and a stronger exchange rate.
Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by Mrs Okenwa Igwebuike, Principal Manager for Statistics, spoke at the weekend at the quarterly meeting of the Port Consultative Council in Lagos.
Also read: FMN Group appoints Akbar Ali Shah managing director in strategic leadership move
Ports handled 103,375 imported vehicles from January to June 2026, against 72,568 units in the same period of 2025.
He tied much of the extra traffic to transshipment at the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited terminal on Tin Can Island.
“A total of 103,375 units of imported vehicles were handled at Nigerian ports between January and June 2026, representing a 42.5 per cent increase when compared with 72,568 units recorded in the same period in 2025,” he said.
Other first half figures also rose. Vessel calls reached 2,152, up 6.9 per cent. Gross registered tonnage climbed to 96,693,108 from 79,981,595, a 20.9 per cent increase.
Total cargo throughput was 68,294,210 metric tonnes, up 12.2 per cent from 60,844,521. Inward cargo was 38,411,323 metric tonnes, up 5.6 per cent.
Lekki Port stood out, with vessel calls up 48.4 per cent. The port now handles nearly 40 per cent of national cargo.
Dr Abubakar Dantsoho said the Dangote Refinery accounted for 76 per cent of cargo there in the period and about 40 per cent of annual port traffic nationwide.
Onne Port recorded a 26.6 per cent rise in vessel calls, helped by LNG exports, and took 22.7 per cent of national cargo. Calabar and Rivers ports together handled just over 4 per cent. Other locations saw fewer vessel calls.
Container throughput reached 815,346 twenty foot equivalent units, up 10.3 per cent from 709,142. Imports were 546,755 TEUs, or 67 per cent.
Exports were 203,980 TEUs, or 25 per cent. Transshipment containers rose 169.5 per cent to 35,570 TEUs, still only 4 per cent of the total.
Not every measure improved. Average ship turnaround stretched to 5.3 days at berth, a 6 per cent worsening on 2025.
Dr Abubakar Dantsoho said a planned expansion of the Dangote Refinery to 1.4 million barrels a day would require more port investment and a balanced traffic policy.
Abayomi Duyile told Punch on Monday that the car surge followed a modest levy cut. Vehicle trading, he said, now offers quick turnover.
He also warned that many of the arrivals were old or accident damaged cars, some bought at United States auctions from Nigeria.
He claimed internet fraud was feeding demand for flashy cars. That is his view, not a finding in the NPA data.
Also read: FMN Group appoints Akbar Ali Shah managing director in strategic leadership move
Dr Muda Yusuf pointed to two causes: a slight downward review of tariffs and import duty on vehicles, and a stronger naira in recent months.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
