UN/LOCODE: NGLOS📍 Nigeria

Port of Lagos (UN/LOCODE NGLOS)

❖ Coordinates: 6.5244°N, 3.3792°E

❖ Time Zone: Africa/Lagos

❖ UN/LOCODE: NGLOS

## About the Port The Port of Lagos (UN/LOCODE: **NGLOS**) is Nigeria’s primary Atlantic gateway and the busiest container hub in West Africa. Situated in the commercial megacity of Lagos (6.5243793 ° N, 3.3792057 ° E) and operating on **Africa/Lagos** time, the terminal serves as the logistics nucleus for the nation’s import‑export economy. Managed by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos Port combines deep‑water berths, extensive yard space, and integrated multimodal connections (rail, road, and inland waterways) to accommodate a broad spectrum of cargo—from bulk petroleum products to high‑value manufactured goods. Its strategic position on the Gulf of Guinea gives it direct access to the Atlantic shipping lanes that link Europe, the Americas, and the rest of Africa, making NGLOS a pivotal node in global supply chains. --- ## History The origins of Lagos’ maritime facilities trace back to the early 20th century, when British colonial authorities established a modest wharf to serve the tin and rubber trade. Post‑independence (1960) saw a rapid expansion driven by Nigeria’s oil boom. In the 1970s, the federal government commissioned the **Apapa Port** complex, the historic core of the modern Port of Lagos, and introduced containerization to handle emerging trans‑Atlantic freight flows. The 1990s brought a wave of privatization and public‑private partnerships that upgraded quay infrastructure, introduced mechanized handling equipment, and instituted modern customs procedures. The port’s container throughput surged from under 1 million TEUs in 1995 to more than 2.4 million TEUs by 2022, reflecting both domestic demand and the rise of West‑African re‑export markets. Recent history is marked by the 2018 **Port Reform Initiative**, which leveraged technology (e‑customs, satellite‑based vessel tracking) to cut dwell times and improve berth allocation efficiency. This reform aligned Lagos with international best practices outlined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Bank’s **Port Reform Programme**.[^1] --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths and Draft - **Deep‑water berths:** 12 berths with a maximum draft of **13.5 m**, suitable for Pan‑amax and post‑Pan‑amax vessels. - **General cargo berths:** 8 berths handling break‑bulk, project cargo, and roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) traffic. ### Container Handling - **Super‑post-Panamax gantry cranes:** 7 units with a 23‑m outreach, supporting 22‑container wide ships. - **Rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) yards:** 1.4 million m² of stacked container space, permitting up to **5,000 TEUs** in the yard at any given time. - **Automated straddle carriers:** Deployed for short‑haul intra‑terminal movements, reducing truck turnaround by 30 %. ### Bulk & Liquid Terminals - **Oil terminal:** 4 deep‑water jetties equipped with loading arms capable of handling crude and refined products at 70 kDWT capacity per berth. - **Dry bulk terminals:** 2 silos (grain, cement) with conveyor systems delivering 3 Mt/yr throughput. ### Supporting Facilities - **Customs and C&F zones:** Fully digitalized single‑window clearance platform integrated with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). - **Repair and ship‑yard services:** NPA‑run dry dock (3,000 LT capacity) providing hull, machinery, and outfitting services. - **Logistics parks:** Adjacent to the port, two logistics parks (each ~200 ha) house warehousing, cold storage, and value‑added processing facilities. ### Connectivity - **Rail link:** Standard gauge line connecting Lagos Port to the national rail network (Abuja–Lagos corridor) facilitates intermodal cargo movement. - **Road network:** Direct access to the **Eko Expressway (A1)** and **Lagos–Ibadan Expressway**, supporting high‑capacity truck traffic. - **Inland waterways:** The Lagos Harbour–Lekki Waterway offers a 24‑km navigable channel for light cargo barges, easing congestion on land routes. --- ## Economic Importance Port of Lagos generates an estimated **$6 billion** in direct fiscal revenue annually, representing roughly **20 %** of Nigeria’s total maritime earnings. Its throughput underpins the nation’s **import‑dependent** economy: more than **70 %** of Nigeria’s consumer goods—including electronics, textiles, and foodstuffs—transit through NGLOS. The port also serves as a **regional hub** for land‑locked West‑African countries (e.g., Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger). By offering efficient trans‑shipment services, Lagos captures a significant share of intra‑African trade, reinforcing Nigeria’s position within the **AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area)** framework. Employment impact is substantial. The port and its ancillary services (logistics, customs, freight forwarding) directly employ over **45,000** workers and indirectly support an estimated **250,000** jobs across the Lagos metropolitan area. From a macro‑economic perspective, the port’s performance is a leading indicator of Nigeria’s **GDP growth**. In 2023, container throughput grew **8.5 %** year‑on‑year, correlating with a 3.2 % rise in national GDP, as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Shipping Lanes | Origin / Destination | Primary Shipping Route | Vessel Types | |----------------------|------------------------|--------------| | **Europe (Rotterdam, Antwerp)** | Gulf of Guinea → Canary Islands → Lisbon → Rotterdam | Container ships (Post‑Panamax) | | **Asia (Shanghai, Singapore)** | Suez Canal → Red Sea → Gulf of Guinea → Lagos | Container ships (Ultra‑Large) | | **North America (New York, Houston)** | Atlantic crossing via the Caribbean | Container & tankers | | **West Africa (Abidjan, Dakar)** | Coastal intra‑regional service | Feeder vessels, Ro‑Ro | The port’s **East‑West axis** (Asia ↔ Europe/North America) accounts for roughly **60 %** of container traffic, while **regional feeder services** dominate the bulk and Ro‑Ro segments. ### Cargo Profile - **Containerized goods (≈ 2.4 million TEUs/yr):** - *Electronics & consumer appliances* – 35 % - *Textiles & apparel* – 22 % - *Machinery & automotive parts* – 18 % - *Food & beverage products* – 15 % - **Liquid bulk (≈ 10 Mt/yr):** - Crude oil & petroleum products – 60 % (served by dedicated oil terminals) - Liquefied natural gas (LNG) – emerging segment with planned LNG bunkering facilities. - **Dry bulk (≈ 8 Mt/yr):** - Cement, agro‑inputs (fertilizer, grain), and metallurgical ores. - **Project cargo & Ro‑Ro:** - Heavy machinery for oil & gas, construction equipment, and passenger vehicles, particularly for the West‑African market. The cargo mix reflects Nigeria’s dual status as a **major oil exporter** and a **large consumer‑goods importer**, positioning Lagos Port as a critical transshipment point for both inbound finished goods and outbound primary commodities. --- ### References [^1]: World Bank. *Port Reform Programme – Nigeria*. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nigeria/overview (accessed July 2026). --- *Keywords: Port of Lagos, NGLOS, Nigeria maritime hub, Lagos port infrastructure, West Africa container traffic, Nigerian ports authority, Lagos trade routes.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

NGLOS

Country

Nigeria

Province / Region

Lagos

Latitude

6.524379

Longitude

3.379206

Timezone

Africa/Lagos

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Lagos?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Lagos is NGLOS.

Where is Port of Lagos located?

The Port of Lagos is located in Nigeria, Lagos. Its coordinates are 6.5244°N, 3.3792°E.

What time zone is Port of Lagos in?

Port of Lagos operates in the Africa/Lagos time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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