World Bank Ranks Apapa, Tin Can Among World’s Top 20 Most Improved Ports
By Our Correspondent – Nigeria’s maritime sector has received a major boost as the World Bank ranked the Apapa Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port Complex among the world’s 20 most improved container ports, reflecting significant gains in operational efficiency and vessel turnaround time over the past five years.
The recognition was contained in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), a global benchmark jointly compiled by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence to assess container port performance based on vessel turnaround times and operational efficiency.
According to the report, Tin Can Island Port emerged 10th globally among ports that recorded the highest improvements between 2020 and 2025, while Apapa Port ranked 12th, placing Nigeria among a select group of countries that have demonstrated remarkable progress in port operations.
Data from the index showed that Tin Can Island Port improved its CPPI score by 42 points, moving from -68 in 2020 to -26 in 2025. Apapa Port also recorded significant progress, improving by 35 points from -61 to -26 within the same period.
The performance placed Nigeria among countries making substantial advances in vessel turnaround times, port efficiency and cargo handling operations, outperforming several major international ports, including France’s Marseille Port, Türkiye’s Iskenderun Port and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port in the improvement rankings.
Industry analysts say the achievement highlights the impact of ongoing reforms and modernization efforts within the nation’s port system. The CPPI, now in its sixth edition, provides a data-driven assessment of how efficiently ports handle container traffic and the length of time vessels spend in port, making it one of the most respected global measures of port performance.
Reacting to the ranking, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, attributed the achievement to ongoing investments in port infrastructure and equipment modernization, as well as supportive government policies aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and competitiveness.
The recognition comes amid improving trade indicators for Nigeria. The country recently recorded a trade surplus of N7.54 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, with stakeholders linking part of the performance to improved cargo movement and efficiency at the nation’s seaports.
Maritime experts believe the latest ranking will strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s port sector and reinforce efforts to position the country as a leading maritime and logistics hub in West Africa.
