Port Infrastructure Upgrades: Nigeria is addressing chronic port congestion through new deepwater ports and expansions. The flagship Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos became fully operational in 2023 and is West Africa’s deepest seaportcalmwatershipping.co. With 16.5 m draft and an annual capacity of 2.7 million TEUs, Lekki Port can berth ultra-large container ships (18,000+ TEU), dramatically improving efficiency and reducing unit transport costs. Further expansion is underway: in December 2024, a $1 billion agreement was signed to develop the Snake Island Port (Lagos), with construction from 2025 and Phase 1 operations by 2027calmwatershipping.co. These investments, alongside parallel upgrades in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Togo, are creating a network of modern deepwater ports across West Africacalmwatershipping.co. For shippers and importers, the result will be shorter waiting times, alternative port options, and improved logistics reliability, as cargo traffic can be distributed across multiple high-capacity hubscalmwatershipping.co.

Digitalization & Trade Facilitation: A major digital transformation is streamlining Nigeria’s port and trade processes. In 2024 the government launched a National Single Window (NSW) platform to integrate all trade-related agencies (customs, ports, SON, NPA, etc.) into one electronic systembusinessday.ng. By eliminating duplicate paperwork and automating approvals, the NSW is expected to significantly cut cargo clearance times, reduce corruption, and lower costs for importers/exporters. The system is now in its development phase with an operational target of early 2026businessday.ng. Importantly, Nigeria plans to interlink the Single Window with the AfCFTA framework, which would enable Nigerian businesses to more easily access African markets by reducing trade frictions and improving supply chain visibility across bordersbusinessday.ng. Stakeholders in logistics are optimistic that these reforms – alongside improved trucking logistics (e-call up systems) and forthcoming rail connections to ports – will make Nigerian ports more competitive and trade-friendly, curbing the past trend of shippers diverting cargo to neighboring countries.

Enhanced Maritime Security: Security in the Gulf of Guinea has seen marked improvement, which is critical for maritime logistics. Thanks to Nigeria’s anti-piracy initiatives (such as the Deep Blue Project and increased naval patrols), piracy incidents in the region fell to their lowest levels in nearly 30 yearsguardian.ng. The International Maritime Bureau reported only 12 piracy/armed robbery cases in the entire GoG during the first nine months of 2024 – the fewest since 1996guardian.ng. Notably, none of these occurred in Nigerian territorial watersicc-ccs.org, a sharp turnaround from a few years ago when Nigeria was a global hotspot for ship attacks. This improvement enhances the safety of vessels, crews and cargoes in West African routes, leading to lower war-risk insurance premiums and more reliable schedules for shipping lines serving Nigeria. However, authorities and IMB continue to urge vigilance against a potential resurgenceguardian.ng. Overall, the safer maritime environment is a positive development for traders and offshore operators, reinforcing Nigeria’s image as a more secure place to do maritime business.

Blue Economy Focus: The Nigerian government is placing new emphasis on the marine economy as a growth sector. In 2023 President Tinubu created a dedicated Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, signaling intent to harness Nigeria’s 853 km coastline and vast waterways for sustainable developmentguardian.ng. In May 2025, the administration approved a 10-year National Marine & Blue Economy Policy (2025–2034), which provides a roadmap for investment in fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, tourism, and undersea resourcesguardian.ngguardian.ng. The policy envisions robust private-sector participation (through PPPs) and improved governance to unlock an estimated ₦1 trillion in annual revenue potential from maritime activitiespunchng.com. For stakeholders, this could mean new incentives and partnerships in areas like shipbuilding/repair (note: 27 Nigerian shipyards were recently accredited for vessel repairsguardian.ng), coastal shipping (cabotage enforcement is being strengthened to favor Nigerian-owned vesselscalmwatershipping.co), and marine infrastructure. A concerted blue economy strategy also ties into Nigeria’s sustainability goals – ensuring that growth in shipping and fisheries is balanced with ocean conservation and climate resilience. In sum, the policy momentum indicates significant upcoming opportunities in Nigeria’s marine logistics and ocean industries, backed by high-level political will.