World Bank Ranks Tin Can, Apapa Among World’s Top 20 Most Improved Container Ports
By Grace Chidimma Ibe
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
Nigeria’s port sector has received international recognition as the World Bank included Tin Can Island Port and Lagos Port (Apapa) among the world’s top 20 most improved container ports over the last five years in its 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).
According to the sixth edition of the CPPI, jointly produced by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, Tin Can Island Port ranked 10th globally among ports with the most significant performance improvements between 2020 and 2025, while Lagos Port (Apapa) secured the 12th position.
The Container Port Performance Index measures port efficiency by assessing vessel turnaround time and operational performance using globally recognised benchmarks. The report provides a data-driven comparison of container ports worldwide and tracks improvements over time.
The latest rankings highlight notable progress in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Tin Can Island Port improved its CPPI score by 42 points, moving from -68 in 2020 to -26 in 2025, while Lagos Port recorded a 35-point improvement, rising from -61 to -26 over the same period.
The improved performance places Nigeria among a select group of countries that have made substantial gains in vessel turnaround times, cargo handling operations, and overall port efficiency during the five-year review period.
Nigeria also outperformed several major international ports in the improvement rankings, including France’s Marseille Port, which ranked 11th with a 39-point improvement, Türkiye’s Iskenderun Port in 13th place with a 34-point increase, and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which placed 14th with a 32-point gain.
Peru’s Paita Port occupied the 15th position with 32 points, while China’s Keelung and Fuzhou ports ranked 16th and 17th respectively, each recording 27-point improvements.
The recognition comes amid reports of sustained growth in Nigeria’s external trade. The National Bureau of Statistics recently reported a trade surplus of ₦7.54 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, with the Nigerian Ports Authority continuing to play a significant role in facilitating import and export activities.
Reacting to the report, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, attributed the achievement to ongoing reforms and infrastructure development initiatives.
He stated that the investment-friendly policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, combined with the support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have created the enabling environment needed to modernise port infrastructure and equipment, improve operational efficiency, expand trade opportunities, and strengthen the national economy.
The latest World Bank ranking is expected to boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector and reinforce ongoing efforts to position the country as a leading trade and logistics hub in West Africa.
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