Lekki Freeport Terminal Emerges as West Africa's Key Logistics Hub

Strategic Insights -

The Lekki Freeport Terminal, a container operator at Nigeria's deepest seaport, has achieved a 40 percent year-on-year increase in throughput, handling 238,000 TEUs in its first full year of operation. This rise in performance underscores the terminal's growing role in easing trade bottlenecks and improving Nigeria's export capacity, which has long been constrained by aging infrastructure and congestion at legacy ports. The terminal's success can be attributed to its automation, rapid vessel turnaround, and efficient container inspection processes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lekki Freeport Terminal achieved a 40 percent year-on-year increase in throughput in 2024, handling 238,000 TEUs in its first full year of operation.
  • The terminal operates fully digitized processes from ship berthing to cargo release, enabling rapid vessel turnaround and container inspection.
  • With twin-lift cranes, a 21-container-wide reach, and FS 6000 scanners, the terminal ensures quick container inspection and clearing, taking minutes to process containers.
  • Truck turnaround time averages just 1.1 hours, enabled by a vehicle booking system that uses RFID and biometrics to streamline access and reduce wait times.
  • The terminal hit a milestone of 6,885 TEUs in monthly export volume in April 2025, the highest since operations began.
  • Weekly calls from global carriers including Maersk Line, COSCO, ONE, ZIM/GSL, and CMA CGM reinforce the terminal's global connectivity, drawing increased foreign direct investment.
  • Lekki Port's long-term strategy aligns with Nigeria's goal of becoming a regional export powerhouse, with a focus on operational efficiency and modern equipment.
  • The terminal's barging services already support inland container movement, and planned connectivity upgrades may solidify its position as a trade enabler for ECOWAS.

Statistics:

  • 40 percent: Year-on-year increase in throughput at Lekki Freeport Terminal in 2024.
  • 238,000: Number of TEUs handled by the terminal in its first full year of operation.
  • 21 containers: Width of the reach of the terminal's container cranes.
  • 1.1 hours: Average truck turnaround time at the terminal, enabled by a vehicle booking system.
  • 6,885: Monthly export volume in TEUs achieved by the terminal in April 2025, its highest since operations began.
  • 6 weeks: Frequency of weekly calls from global carriers to the terminal.
  • 2024: Year in which Lekki Freeport Terminal started full operations.
  • 2025: Year in which the terminal achieved a record monthly export volume of 6,885 TEUs.

Sources:

  • CMA Terminals, a unit of global shipping giant CMA CGM.
  • Maersk Line, COSCO, ONE, ZIM/GSL, and CMA CGM, global carriers operating at the terminal.