Lagos ports are gearing up for a busy period in January 2026, with the arrival of 31 vessels carrying essential goods, including petroleum products and food items.
These vessels are expected to dock at two of the nation’s premier ports, the Apapa, and Tin-Can Island, as well as the country’s first deep seaport, the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
All vessels are expected to arrive in Lagos between January 6 and January 16, 2026.
This is according to official documents obtained from the landlord of the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Expected cargoes on board the different vessels include a wide range of consignments, such as: Petroleum Products, condensate, crude oil, aviation fuel, diesel, and petrol, food Items, bulk soya beans, fresh fish and raw oil. Other Goods expected are bulk bitumen, wall pallets, general cargo, and containers.
This influx of vessels is expected to boost the supply of essential goods in the country.
Notably, 13 ships and tanker vessels have already arrived at the three ports, waiting to berth with various cargoes, while 23 ships are currently discharging bulk urea, containers, and other goods.
The NPA, in its weekly bulletin titled “Daily Shipping Position”, obtained on Tuesday disclosed that the vessels are expected from Jan. 6 to Jan. 16.
The NPA noted that 13 ships and tanker vessels had arrived at the three ports, waiting to berth with diesel, crude oil, aviation fuel, fresh fish, crude palm olein, general cargoes, bulk gas, wallet pallets, containers and bulk sugar.
It also stated that 23 ships are presently discharging bulk urea, containers, bulk wheat, bulk salt, bitumen, bulk gas, petrol, fresh fish and general cargoes.
With the arrival of the 31 vessels commercial activities are also expected to peak with the discharge of almost all the cargoes.
Daily Trust gathered that most owners of the consignments have already processed their bill of laden, ahead of the clearance process.
The Nigeria Customs Service had assured the trading public of speedy clearance of consignments under the Fast Track Scheme to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had in December 2025, extended the deadline for the migration of all beneficiaries under the Fast Track Scheme to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, from December 31, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
NCS spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada, said the move was in line with the service’s commitment to deepening trade facilitation, securing supply chains, and strengthening compliance with global standards.
“The extended timeline provides operators with ample opportunity to meet programme requirements and secure AEO certification without disruption to their business operations,” the statement read.
He described the extension as a reinforcement of the service’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and inclusive transition process for all stakeholders.
According to Maiwada, the decision to fully migrate from the fast-track scheme to AEO aligned with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and supported by Sections 108 to 111 of the NCS Act, 2023.
…Petrol imports persist despite Dangote refinery
The expected arrival of several cargoes carrying petroleum products including premium motor spirit (PMS), diesel and aviation fuel highlights the continued fuel importation despite the existence of Dangote Refinery which has insisted on having the capacity to supply local requirements.
Daily Trust reports that Dangote Refinery has faulted the continued granting of licences to importers by the regulatory authority in the downstream and midstream sector.
Our correspondent report that in 2025, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recorded an average daily petrol supply surge of 71.5 million litres on account of increased imports and some domestic output from the Dangote Refinery, while daily consumption lessened to 52.9 million litres.
Chairman of Dangote Refineries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote recently kicked against continued importation of petroleum products.
He expressed concern over the state of the downstream sector, saying Nigeria’s continued reliance on fuel imports was harming local production and discouraging investment in domestic refining.
He disclosed that import licences covering approximately 7.5 billion litres of PMS had reportedly been issued for the first quarter of 2026, despite the availability of significant domestic refining capacity.
According to him, modular refineries are already struggling under the current policy environment and on the brink of extinction, while the persistent issuance of import permits further weakens the sector.
He described the downstream petroleum sector as being under severe strain, alleging the presence of entrenched interests that profit from fuel imports at the expense of national development.
“There are powerful interests in the oil sector. It is troubling that African countries continue to import refined products despite long-standing calls for value addition and domestic refining. The volume of imports being allowed into the country is unethical and does a disservice to Nigeria,” he added.
He maintained that Nigerians would ultimately benefit from local refining, even as fuel importers incur losses. Dangote said he would not relent in ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the benefits of domestic refining, noting that the company was working around the clock to ensure that recent reductions in the gantry price were fully reflected at the retail level.
Daily Trust reports that Dangote Refinery recently crashed fuel price to N739 per litre nationwide; the development which analysts observed has boosted the price war in the downstream sector since the birth of the 650,000 refinery.
Dangote while also faulting recent rumour that it has shut down production accused fuel importers of promoting false reports to justify recent, unwarranted increases in petrol pump prices, noting that such actions run counter to national interest and impose unnecessary hardship on Nigerians.
According to the refinery, without domestic refining, petrol prices could rise to as much as N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment, highlighting the stabilising role of local production.
“Recent price movements further highlight an uncomfortable reality. In the absence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, fuel importers would continue to operate without restraint, with petrol prices potentially escalating to levels estimated at up to N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment.
The refinery’s operations have therefore served as a critical stabilising force in the downstream petroleum market,” Dangote Group had said in a statement.
Nigeria’s maritime sector records significant breakthrough in 2025 – FG
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s maritime sector, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to harness its vast maritime resources.
The breakthrough is a result of the government’s sustained efforts to reform and reposition the maritime sector for greater efficiency and competitiveness.
According to the Minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, the marine and blue economy sector has been decisively unlocked for genuine growth and development under the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola with several long-standing jinxes — once thought permanent — successfully broken.
Akinola said the Minister’s actions since assuming office in August 2023, and most notably throughout 2025, have dismantled obstacles that constrained the sector for decades.
These reforms, he noted, have restored confidence, improved performance and repositioned the marine and blue economy as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
Foremost among these achievements, he said, was the resolution of the notorious Apapa gridlock, which for over 20 years paralysed the Lagos port corridor and severely disrupted trade. By early 2024, sustained policy coordination, operational discipline and infrastructure optimisation delivered lasting relief to Apapa and its environs.
He said the clearing of the gridlock significantly reduced cargo dwell time, lowered logistics costs, enhanced port efficiency and removed a major disincentive to investment, effectively restoring the Lagos ports as functional gateways for national and regional commerce.
Another long-standing setback, according to the Special Adviser, was Nigeria’s prolonged absence from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council.
He noted that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council in 2025, after 14 years outside the global maritime decision-making body, followed a keenly contested election and marked a major restoration of the country’s international maritime standing. Achieved under Minister Oyetola’s focused leadership, the feat strengthened Nigeria’s influence in shaping global maritime regulations, reinforced its leadership role in Africa and reaffirmed international confidence in its maritime governance.
SOURCE: dailytrust.com