Service boat operation in Nigeria recorded an exceptional 49.6 per cent increase in activity, with the number of boats handled growing from 8,956 in 2023 to 13,396 in 2024, reveals a report by the Nigerian Ports Authority.
In the 2024 Consolidated Management Report of the NPA, the agency explained that the gross registered tonnage for service boats soared by 129.3 per cent, jumping from 1,997,163 tonnes to 4,579,742 tonnes within the period under review.
The report added that the development reflects enhanced offshore activities and better service infrastructure at the ports, stressing that the operational efficiency of Nigerian ports also showed improvement.
“The service boat operations recorded an exceptional 49.6 per cent increase in activity, with the number of boats handled growing from 8,956 in 2023 to 13,396 in 2024. Additionally, the gross registered tonnage for service boats soared by 129.3 per cent, jumping from 1,997,163 tonnes to 4,579,742 tonnes. This reflects enhanced offshore activities and better service infrastructure at the ports. The operational efficiency of Nigerian ports also showed improvement,” the report stated.
It added that the average turnaround time for vessels decreased from 4.7 to 4.6 days, reflecting a 1.0 per cent improvement in port operations.
The statement explained that Lekki Deep Seaport demonstrated the highest efficiency, with an average vessel turnaround time of just 2.5 days.
“Furthermore, the berth occupancy rate improved from 30.1 per cent in 2023 to 33 per cent in 2024, signifying increased port utilisation and operational effectiveness,” it added.
The report highlighted significant improvements in port activities, with multiple indicators pointing to robust growth across various sectors.
It maintained that from cargo throughput to ship traffic and service boat operations, the Nigerian ports have experienced remarkable progress.
The report reiterated that one of the most notable achievements in 2024 was the substantial increase in cargo throughput. Cargo traffic surged by 45.1 per cent, rising from 71,213,197 metric tonnes in 2023 to 103,336,863 metric tonnes in 2024.
“This increase reflects heightened trade activities and improved operational efficiencies. Lekki Port stood out as the leader in cargo throughput growth, recording a 2,160.8 per cent increase, followed by Onne Port with a 9.4 per cent rise and Tincan Island Port with 7.3 per cent growth. Notably, liquid bulk cargo accounted for the largest share at 55.6 per cent, while containerised cargo contributed 20.9 per cent,” the report further revealed.
The report stressed that Nigerian ports also recorded impressive gains in ship traffic, stressing that the number of ship calls increased by 5.6 per cent, growing from 3,791 in 2023 to 4,005 in 2024.
It highlighted that this was accompanied by an even more substantial 15.4 per cent growth in GRT, which climbed from 123,660,278 to 142,660,418 tonnes.
“Lekki Port again led the growth trend, registering a 477.6 per cent increase in ship calls, while Onne Port experienced a 5.8 per cent rise. The total container throughput also saw a significant 9.7 per cent increase, with 1,744,972 TEUs handled in 2024, compared to 1,591,194 TEUs in 2023. Within this category, laden containers grew by 12.2 per cent, with export-laden containers experiencing an outstanding 53.7 per cent rise. Transshipment container traffic saw an even more impressive 136.5 per cent increase, indicating a growing role for Nigerian ports in regional cargo redistribution,” it concluded.
