The Federal Government has endorsed plans to expand dredging at Lekki Deep Seaport to increase its capacity for larger vessels and enhance cargo throughput.
The announcement was made by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, through a post on the official X account of the NPA on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
Currently, the port’s draught stands at 16.5 metres; however, the announcement did not specify the targeted depth for the planned dredging project.
“This comes on the heels of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola’s endorsement of the strategic alliance between the NPA and Lekki Port to dredge beyond the current draft in preparation for increasing vessel and cargo throughput,” the statement partly read.
The statement highlighted that the endorsement follows a strategic partnership between the NPA and Lekki Port aimed at expanding the port’s capacity and boosting operational efficiency.
More insights
Dantsoho commended the management of Lekki Deep Seaport for their consistent superior performance and reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to providing all necessary support to optimize the port’s operations.
The NPA Managing Director emphasized that the management aims to position the national economy to fully leverage the multi-dimensional benefits of economies of scale, capitalizing on Lekki Port’s ability to berth super post-panamax vessels.
He highlighted that Lekki’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and fully automated systems align with the NPA’s broader port modernization programme, which enjoys robust policy support from Minister Oyetola.
- Dantsoho also noted a steady increase in transshipment volumes at Lekki, positioning the port to effectively serve the maritime needs of Nigeria’s landlocked neighbouring countries.
- The statement noted that the port’s advanced features, including faster vessel turnaround times, are expected to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian exports—especially agro-allied products—under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He described Lekki Deep Seaport as a model for the direction the NPA is pursuing in aggressively implementing its port modernization initiatives.
During his visit, Dr. Dantsoho was accompanied by key industry stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Lekki Port Board, Mr. Abiodun Dabiri; Managing Director of Lekki Port, Mr. Qiang Wang; Executive Director Finance & Administration of NPA, Vivian Richard-Edet; and Director of Lekki Port, Alhaji Olabode Oyedele.
What you should know
The Lekki Deep Seaport is operated by Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) awarded the concession by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to develop, build, and manage the port.
- As a multipurpose, common user facility, LPLEL has the authority to sub-concession terminal operations to other companies.
- LPLEL is a joint venture owned by Lekki Port Investment Holdings Inc.—which includes China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. and Tolaram Group—along with the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria through the NPA.
The port is incorporated under the Companies & Allied Matters Act and operates within the Lagos Free Trade Zone under a license granted by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).
