In a 2025 World Bank Logistics Performance Index, Nigeria ranked 99th out of 139 countries — a position that reflects, in part, the inefficiency of its port sector. Port charges in Nigeria are among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, cargo dwell times consistently exceed regional averages, and vessel waiting times at anchorage can stretch from days to weeks. These are not merely abstract statistics — they represent real costs borne by Nigerian importers and exporters, and ultimately, Nigerian consumers.
What Gets Measured, Gets Managed
The first step toward improving port performance is measuring it accurately and consistently. This may sound obvious, but West African port statistics have historically been characterised by inconsistency, incompleteness, and lack of standardisation. Port authorities have used different methodologies to calculate the same indicators — making comparison between ports impossible and trend analysis unreliable.
IMETC's port statistics division has spent over a decade developing and applying a standardised data collection framework aligned with UNCTAD's Port Management Information System (PORTMIS) and the Association of American Port Authorities (AAPA) performance indicators. Applied consistently across 12 Nigerian and regional ports, this framework produces data that is genuinely comparable over time and across ports — enabling the kind of evidence-based analysis that can drive reform.
Key Findings from Our 2025 Annual Port Performance Review
Our most recent Annual West African Port Performance Review — covering 2024 data from 12 ports — highlights both progress and persistent challenges. Container crane productivity at Apapa improved from an average of 14.2 moves per hour in 2020 to 17.8 moves per hour in 2024 — meaningful progress, but still well below the African Efficiency Benchmark of 22 moves per hour identified by the World Bank.
Cargo dwell time improved significantly for dry bulk — down from an average of 18 days to 11 days — driven by improved documentation digitisation. However, container dwell times remain stubbornly high at 14–21 days versus a global benchmark of 3–5 days.
Berth occupancy data tells a nuanced story. While Apapa's container berths run at 78–82% occupancy — on the high side but manageable — the resulting vessel waiting times are excessive because the berth allocation system is not optimised for vessel size and cargo profile. Smarter berth scheduling, informed by data, could reduce vessel waiting times by an estimated 35–40% without adding a single metre of new berth length.
The Path Forward: A Data Culture for Nigerian Ports
Building a genuine data culture in Nigerian ports requires more than installing software — it requires leadership commitment, trained analysts, data governance frameworks, and a willingness to use data to challenge comfortable assumptions. Ports that embrace this culture will make better decisions, attract better investment, and ultimately deliver better service to their customers.
The NPA's ongoing Port Management Information System rollout is a positive step. Where it succeeds, it creates a foundation for real-time performance dashboards, predictive analytics, and — in time — AI-assisted berth and resource planning. IMETC has been providing technical support to several terminal operators integrating PORTMIS-aligned data streams into their internal management reporting.
"You cannot manage what you do not measure — and in Nigerian ports, too much has been managed on instinct for too long. Data is the democratiser of port reform." — Remi Adesanya, IMETC Director, Data & Statistics