The management of Lekki Deep Seaport has said it is actively collaborating with government agencies and strategic partners to scale up transshipment operations to landlocked countries, aiming to boost trade efficiency across West Africa and within the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Lekki Port, Odibe, highlighted the port’s expanding role in unlocking transshipment value across the sub-region.

He noted that since the commencement of transshipment operations in June 2023, the port has handled over 40,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) across West African ports, with nearly half of that volume moved within the first six months of 2025 alone.

Odibe made these remarks during a panel session at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Freight Forwarders Group Conference held in Lagos.

The conference, themed: ‘From Ports to Prosperity: Fixing the Links in Nigeria’s Supply Chain’, brought together port operators, regulatory agencies, customs officials, freight forwarders, and trade facilitators to address challenges and opportunities within the nation’s logistics ecosystem.

He stressed that seamless and efficient port operations are not optional luxuries but essential infrastructure for modern trade.

“With a 16.5-metre draft and super post-Panamax cranes, Lekki Port can receive the largest vessels in the world and discharge cargo swiftly, saving shipping lines both time and cost. Also, with strong inter-agency cooperation and cutting-edge infrastructure already in place, the port’s performance continues to set a new standard for port efficiency in the sub-region,” he said.

The Assistant Director at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Oluwafemi Omonayin, commended the port’s operations, saying: “Even recently, we were at your port and saw what you’ve put on the ground. Most of your operational activities are seamless.”

The Deputy Chairman of the LCCI Freight Forwarders Trade Group and Managing Director of Cobita Invest Limited, Dr Ikenna Nwosu, praised Lekki Port for facilitating the movement of transit cargo.

He also lauded the port’s container scanning system, which he said can scan a container in just 30 seconds.

Other panellists identified Lekki Port as a model of smart port infrastructure aligned with national trade facilitation objectives.

They called for its replication across the nation’s port system to improve efficiency and competitiveness.

Discussions also emphasised the critical importance of multimodal connectivity, including road, rail, and barge networks, positioning Lekki Port as a strategic hub for serving landlocked African countries under the AfCFTA agenda.