An Overview of the Nigeria’s Maritime Industry: 2025 Achievements and Expectations

An Overview of the Nigeria’s Maritime Industry: 2025 Achievements and Expectations 

ZAINAB JUNAID

Nigeria’s Maritime Industry has recorded remarkable achievements driven by transformative reforms and technological advancements in 2025.

From regulating tariffs (Nigerian Shippers’ Council) to boosting maritime safety (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA), upgrading the Port (Nigerian Port Authority, NPA), managing waterways (National Inland Water Authority, NIWA) and facilitating trade, (Nigeria Customs Service, NCS), each agency deployed initiatives and strategies that aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s “renewed hope agenda”.

With close supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Honourable Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, who is poised to maximise Nigeria’s extensive marine resources for environmental sustainability, economic growth and job creation, the industry witnessed several landmark achievements with substantial growth and improved operational efficiency.

Nigeria also gained global recognition in 2025 for her re-election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after a 14 year absence, the Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi PhD emerged World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council Chair, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho got elected as the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH)’s Vice President for Africa.

These milestones reflect growing international confidence for Nigeria.

 

Key Highlights of each Agency in 2025:

Nigerian Shippers’ Council: With the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima leading, the Council unveiled the first comprehensive digital Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to automate work flow, boost efficiency and improve transparency in the industry.

It signed a management bond to uphold core values and ethical standards, focusing more on accountability, and also saved Nigerian Shippers over N175 billion through effective dispute resolution in the second quarter of 2025. These records reflected the Council’s role as a Port Economic Regulator that drives efficiency and accountability.

 

Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA): 

NIMASA sustained zero piracy incidents in Nigerian Waters under the leadership of its Director- General, Dr Dayo Mobereola. The Port and Flag state remain effective and surpassed global acceptable standards in the period under review.

In a write up titled “NINASA Ends 2025 on a High note” by the Agency’s Public Relations Officer, Edward Osagie, the Agency’s Deep Blue Project also proved instrumental in sustaining the zero piracy in Nigerian Waters.

He revealed that NIMASA advances its commitment to capacity development and the issue of seatime for beneficiaries of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program NSDP is gradually being cleared.

Another milestone for the year under review, was NIMASA’s successful hosting of the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, the world’s leading maritime official, an historic visit that underscored Nigeria’s renewed relevance within the global maritime community.

NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations also informed that the Agency’s management recorded significant progress in staff welfare and motivation.

“Promotions, structured training programmes, and targeted capacity-building initiatives were implemented to enhance career growth, professionalism, and institutional efficiency. These measures contributed to improved morale and strengthened the Agency’s ability to deliver on its statutory mandate,” Osagie said.

 

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS): 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), led by Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi PhD, boosted revenue collection, enhanced border security, and improved trade facilitation in 2025.

The Service introduced Key initiatives including the launch of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), One Stop Shop, Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), De minimis threshold, Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), and Advance Ruling Portal to modernise Nigeria’s trade landscape, reduce costs and boost revenue.

It promoted trade compliance with stakeholder engagements, and also intensified efforts through intelligence driven operations and zero tolerance to curb smuggling.

Similarly, as WCO Council Chair, the Comptroller-General of Customs strengthened Nigeria’s global Customs profile as he presided over the 93rd Policy Commission Session of the WCO in Antigua, Guatemala.

The CGC also took helm of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and equally hosted Maiden Customs Partnership for Africa Cooperation in Trade C- PACT in November. These also strengthened Nigeria’s profile in regional trade and sports development.

The NCS also invested in people, systems and communities by launching Greenborder initiative, an empowerment programme targeted at supporting women and promoting economic growth in border communities. This was carried out through the Customs Care Initiative, NCS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

Information gathered from the Service’s Newsletter, December edition revealed that there was deliberate strengthening of succession and leadership capacities.

According to DC Abdullahi Maiwada PhD, through board- approved appointment, redeployment and strategic leadership placements, the Service is methodically repositioning a new generation of leaders to sustain performance, institutional memory and operational excellence.

This, he said, underscored a commitment to stability, professionalism and long-term organisational resilience.

Another significant breakthrough for the Service in the year under review, was the interception of 20 diverted containers valued at N769.5 million.

Maiwada described this move as a strong statement against cargo diversion and illicit trade.

He equally informed that heightened vigilance at Apapa Port led to the interception of cocaine concealed aboard a Brazilian vessel, while Operation Whirlwind disrupted illegal PMS supply chains feeding insecurity in Adamawa State.

“These actions demonstrated the Service’s intelligence-driven posture and zero tolerance for smuggling and economic sabotage,” Maiwada stated.

Nigeria Port Authority NPA: 

Under the leadership of Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, the Authority successfully integrated Nigeria into the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), signifying a major push for port modernisation in line with global best practices. This bold step according to NPA, is a precursor to the National Single Window project championed by the Federal Government.

Data released by the Authority in December 2025 revealed a significant growth in Ship traffic with vessel calls up by 8.4% to 1,074 ships and total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) rising by 18% to 42.64 million.

It showed that Lekki Deep Seaport emerged as the dominant growth driver, handling 46.8% of total cargo, followed by Onne Port with 17%.

Meanwhile, in terms of vessel size, Lekki Port received the largest ships, with an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 57,244.

Attributing the strong performance to the Federal Government’s export-driven economic reforms and growing investor confidence, Dr. Dantsoho said: “The figures reflect improved operational efficiency across all pilotage districts.”

The Authority wrapped up the year 2025 with the launch of the Electronic Call-Up System at Onne Port in Rivers State, with the aim of tackling persistent traffic congestion, boosting efficiency and streamlining operations at the port.

National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA):

NIWA focused on enhancing safety, efficiency, and infrastructure development in the inland waterways, under its Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.

The Authority, now led by Acting Director Yusuf Girei, ensured full implementation of Water Transportation Code in the year under review to standardised operations and minimise accidents.

It distributed 6,000 standard life jackets to riverine communities and also inaugurated 15 new boats, including surveillance, safety enforcement, and gun patrol boats, as well as water ambulances.

There was also deployment of Water Marshals to monitor loading and off-loading points across the country.

The achievements recorded so far in the industry, depicted 2025 as a year of growth and reforms driven by strong leadership.

Expectations:

With 2025 marking a digital leap for the industry, stakeholders can expect greater achievements in 2026, driven by technology and led by visionary leaders like Honourable Adegboyega Oyetola, Dr. Pius Akutah, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (Dr.), and Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.

As Nigeria’s maritime sector continues to gain global recognition, the focus on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation is set to drive growth, create opportunities, and solidify the country’s position as a key player in the global maritime landscape.