All Other Nigeria Ports, Nigeria

Port Overview

Nigeria’s other ports outside Lagos include Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Warri, located along the country’s eastern and southern coastline. These ports are smaller than Lagos’s Apapa and Tin Can Island but remain strategically important for regional trade, oil and gas exports, and serving the Niger Delta. Onne Port is notable for supporting oil and gas operations, while Warri and Calabar facilitate agricultural and general cargo. Collectively, these ports contribute to Nigeria’s total annual container throughput, which is approximately 1.5 million TEUs, with Lekki Deep Sea Port alone capable of handling up to 2.5 million TEUs.

Facilities & Infrastructure

All Other Nigeria Ports include Calabar, Delta, Rivers (Port Harcourt), and Onne. Key facilities feature multipurpose terminals for containers, bulk, and general cargo, oil and gas logistics zones, and specialized jetties. Equipment includes mobile harbour cranes (up to 208 tons), twin heavy-lift cranes (up to 300 tons), and container handling gear. Onne Port notably supports AGVs and advanced logistics for oil and gas, while other ports offer warehouses, tank farms, and dockyards for diverse cargo operations.

Container Terminals

Nigeria’s major container terminals—Lagos Port Complex (Apapa), Tin Can Island, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar—collectively handle millions of TEUs annually, with Apapa and Tin Can Island being the busiest. These ports typically feature multiple berths (Apapa and Tin Can each have over a dozen), but exact berth counts vary by terminal. Capacity ranges from about 200,000 TEUs at Calabar to over 1.5 million at Apapa. Automation is progressing, with digitalization initiatives underway, but most terminals remain semi-automated, relying on manual and mechanized processes. Major operators include APM Terminals, Intels, and various private concessionaires under NPA oversight. Infrastructure upgrades and rail linkages are ongoing to boost efficiency and capacity.

Port Services

• Container handling: Loading, unloading, stacking, and storage of containers using modern equipment.
• Cargo operations: Stevedoring, bulk cargo handling (dry, liquid, break-bulk), and project cargo management.
• Ship services: Berthing, vessel planning, ship agency, and support for various vessel types.
• Warehousing: Storage of import/export cargo in bonded terminals and warehouses.
• Customs: Documentation, customs clearance, and coordination for cargo release and transfers.

Global Connectivity

All Other Nigeria Ports Connectivity

Beyond the major port complexes, Nigeria's secondary ports provide regional maritime access along its extensive coastline. These facilities connect to major West African hubs and international shipping routes serving Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The ports integrate with inland transport infrastructure, including rail networks linking Bonny, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Lagos. They handle regional cargo distribution, serving neighboring countries like Benin, Togo, and Cameroon. Main shipping routes connect to Mediterranean ports, Middle Eastern terminals, and major Asian markets, supporting Nigeria's position as West Africa's largest maritime gateway.

Port Statistics

All Other Nigeria Ports collectively handled approximately 1.74 million TEUs in 2024. Their world ranking is outside the top 50 container ports globally. The combined number of berths across these ports is over 60. Total port area exceeds 1,200 hectares. Major international shipping lines operating include Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd. These ports support regional trade and transshipment but remain secondary to Lagos and Lekki in throughput.