Joyce Mmereole Okoli
Lekki Deep Sea Port was in the spotlight at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Freight Forwarders Group Conference, earning widespread acclaim from industry stakeholders for its operational excellence and growing transshipment footprint across West Africa.
Held in Victoria Island, Lagos, the high-level gathering brought together key players in the logistics and maritime sectors including port operators, customs officials, freight forwarders, and policymakers to explore solutions to persistent supply chain challenges under the theme: “From Ports to Prosperity: Fixing the Links in Nigeria’s Supply Chain.”
During a panel discussion, Mr. Daniel Odibe, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Lekki Port, highlighted the port’s impressive transshipment growth and unmatched capacity.
“Since commencing transshipment in June 2023, Lekki Port has handled over 40,000 TEUs across West African ports almost half of that in the first half of 2025 alone,” he stated.
“Our 16.5-meter draft and super-post-Panamax cranes make it possible to receive the world’s largest vessels and discharge cargo rapidly, saving both time and cost.”
Odibe’s remarks drew support from industry leaders present at the event. Oluwafemi Omonayin, Assistant Director at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, praised the port’s seamless operations.
“We were recently at your port and saw first-hand the efficiency of your systems. It’s commendable,” he said.
Adding to the accolades, Dr. Ikenna Nwosu, Deputy Chairman of the LCCI Freight Forwarders Trade Group, applauded Lekki Port’s technological advancements, particularly its swift cargo scanning process.
“Thirty seconds to scan a container that’s real efficiency,” he remarked, triggering a round of applause from the audience.
Speakers at the event positioned Lekki Port as a model for aligning infrastructure with national and continental trade goals. They emphasized the importance of multimodal logistics integrating rail, road, and barge connectivity and noted the port’s strategic value under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), especially in servicing landlocked African nations.
Participants at the conference urged replication of Lekki Port’s “smart port” template across other Nigerian ports to improve the country’s overall logistics competitiveness.
“Lekki Port is not just operational it is exemplary. We’re actively collaborating with partners to expand our transshipment reach into the continent and reduce port dwell time. Seamless logistics is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Odibe concluded
With a combination of world-class infrastructure and strong inter-agency synergy, Lekki Port continues to raise the bar for maritime excellence in Nigeria and beyond.