The Lekki Deep Seaport has reached nearly half of its designed operational capacity, reporting consistent month-on-month growth in container throughput since September.

Mr. Wang Qiang, Managing Director and CEO of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, revealed this on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at the port’s end-of-year media briefing.

During the briefing, Wang emphasized that the port is now operating at close to 50 percent capacity, noting that the milestone demonstrates growing confidence from shipping lines and cargo owners in Nigeria’s first deep seaport.

“We already reached almost 50 per cent of our port capacity now,” he said. Wang noted that there is a consistent improvement in the number of twenty-foot equivalent units handled monthly.

He emphasized that efficient multimodal connectivity is crucial for sustaining and accelerating growth at the port, noting that barge operations have become a key channel for cargo evacuation.

Wang highlighted that the ongoing Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project will help reduce congestion and improve access to the port.

He also stressed the importance of rail connectivity, particularly given the growing scale of industrial activities emerging along the Lekki corridor.

“I believe the train option is something the government is concerned about, and with the level of industrial activities in this region, we expect that it will be provided,” he said.

While reaffirming that Lekki Port is a fully automated terminal, Wang acknowledged that delays may continue until all stakeholders, including government agencies, fully adopt end-to-end digital processes.

He explained that customs procedures—especially physical cargo inspections—and other port services need full digitalisation to substantially reduce cargo dwell time.

“We must work together very closely with customers and all categories of operations for automation to yield results,” he said.

Wang noted that integrating the customs system with the terminal operating system and customers is already part of the agreed implementation plan.

“For automation to work efficiently, all players must be ready—customers, government, and every stakeholder. Only then can we have a fantastic system,” Wang added.

He also emphasized that enhanced connectivity would enable the port to effectively double its capacity through performance optimisation, without the need to expand its physical footprint.

The Lekki Deep Seaport, Nigeria’s first deep-sea port, is among the largest maritime infrastructure projects in West Africa. It is located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, within the Lagos Free Zone, along the city’s eastern corridor.