By Godwin Oritse

In apparent reflection of the impact of the global economic on the Nigeria’s maritime sector, vessel calls into Nigerian ports dropped by 4.5 percent  to 3,778 in 2023  as against 3,957 vessels in  2022.

Cargo throughput (excluding crude oil) also recorded a drop of 6.4 percent as a total of 70.47 million metric tons in  2023  against 75.27 million metric tons in  2022.

In a port performance report presented at the quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council held yesterday in Lagos, the report also indicated a drop in Container traffic at 1.57 million   (Twenty Equivalent Units),TEUs in  2023  against 1.68 million recorded in  2022, representing a 6.8 percent fall in container traffic.

However, there was a slight increase in the volume of cargoes that were brought into the nation’s ports at 122.87 million  tons in  2023  against 120.37 million tons in  2022,  showing an increase of 2.1 percent.

The report stated: “Container traffic during the period under review stood at 1,566,162 TEUs showing a decrease of 6.8percent  from 1,681,328 TEUs handled in  2022. A further analysis of container traffic revealed that import container traffic accounted for  55.85  percent with 874,683 TEUs, while export container traffic stood at 684,586 TEUs representing  43.71  percent of total container traffic.

“A breakdown of export container traffic revealed that empty containers accounted for about 80 percent of total export container traffic.

“The average turn-around-time of vessels was 4.0 days, compared with 5.1 days I.  2022. It is however worthy to note that the significant improvement in average turn-around time vessel was brought about by the impact of Lekki Deep Seaport which achieved turn-around of only one day.

“The increase in GRT despite drop in the number of vessel calls revealed berthing of bigger vessels, especially at Lekki Port where the average GRT of the vessel is 45,185 compared to Apapa with 30, 565 GRT.   This further gives credence to the importance of a deep sea to the Nigerian Maritime or port development.

“Therefore, the collective efforts of all the stakeholders are required to ensure that Lekki Deep Seaport does not suffer the fate of Apapa with respect to ease of cargo evacuation.”