NG Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
A Nigeria UN/LOCODE begins with the country prefix NG followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, NGAPA identifies the indexed Apapa location and NGONN identifies Onne.
Seaports in Nigeria: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Nigeria has 30 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting container, breakbulk, energy and regional West African maritime trade.
Explore Nigeria port codes, principal cargo gateways, regional clusters and indicative shipping routes.
Nigeria Port Overview
Nigeria is a major maritime economy on the Gulf of Guinea. Lagos is the principal container gateway, while Onne, Port Harcourt and other coastal facilities support energy, project, bulk and regional cargo flows. Ecer Freight indexing is a database coverage measure and should not be treated as a national port census or a container league-table ranking.
30
Nigeria ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National port cargo throughput, 2025; comparable YoY series not publicly confirmed
NPA 2025 public information
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National container throughput, 2025; comparable YoY series not publicly confirmed
NPA 2025 public information
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Operational berth count, 2025; consolidated national YoY series not publicly confirmed
NPA 2025 public information
How many seaports does Nigeria have?
Nigeria has 30 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is indexed coverage, not a claim that every facility has the same operational or customs role.
Which are Nigeria's principal container gateways?
Lagos, Apapa and Tincan are the leading indexed Lagos-area gateways for containerized and general cargo. Their database codes are NGLAG, NGAPA and NGTIN respectively.
Which regions handle Nigeria's main maritime cargo flows?
The Lagos area is the principal container and consumer-market cluster, while Onne and Port Harcourt support southeastern and Niger Delta energy, project and general cargo flows. The indexed codes include NGONN and NGPHA.
Top Nigeria Ports by Commercial Relevance
The following indexed facilities are ordered by the supplied Ecer Freight activity sequence. A complete, comparable 2025 world-rank, throughput and year-on-year series was not confirmed for these individual Nigerian entries; dashes are therefore used consistently rather than presenting unsupported estimates.
Indexed Nigerian gateways and indicative 2025 data availability
Nigeria Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Lagos Coastal Gateway
The Lagos cluster is Nigeria's main container and import distribution gateway, serving the country's largest commercial market and inland supply chains.
Indexed Lagos-area facilities
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | NGLOS | Lagos / — | Container, general cargo and regional distribution |
| Lagos | NGLAG | Lagos / — | Container and general cargo gateway |
| Apapa | NGAPA | Lagos State / — | Container, import and export cargo |
| Tincan | NGTIN | Lagos / — | Container, ro-ro and general cargo |
| Apapa | NGAPP | Apapa / — | Port and terminal activity serving Lagos |
| Lekki | NGLKI | — / — | Deep-water container and project cargo potential |
Niger Delta and Eastern Energy Cluster
The Niger Delta cluster connects offshore energy, petroleum-related supply chains, project cargo and general cargo activity with coastal and inland markets.
Indexed Niger Delta and eastern facilities
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onne | NGONN | Onne / — | Energy, offshore supply, project and general cargo |
| Port Harcourt | NGPHC | Port Harcourt / — | General cargo and energy-related logistics |
| Port Harcourt | NGPHA | Port-harcourt / — | General, project and energy cargo |
| Bonny | NGBON | Bonny / — | Energy and bulk-related marine activity |
| Okrika | NGOKR | Okrika / — | Energy, liquid bulk and coastal cargo |
| Calabar | NGCBQ | Calabar / — | General cargo and southeastern regional access |
Western and Coastal Bulk Terminals
Additional coastal locations support bulk, energy, feeder, project and locally focused cargo movements. Service availability and berth access are subject to operational confirmation.
Selected indexed coastal facilities
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akassa | NGAKA | Akassa / — | Coastal and energy-related cargo |
| Oron | NGORO | Oron / — | Coastal and regional cargo |
| Warri | NGWAR | Warri / — | Energy, bulk and general cargo |
| Escravos | NGESC | Escravos / — | Energy and liquid bulk activity |
| Forcados | NGFOR | Forcados / — | Energy and bulk cargo |
| Brass | NGBRS | Brass / — | Energy and coastal bulk activity |
Nigeria Port Codes and UN-LOCODEs
UN/LOCODEs identify locations used in international trade documentation, booking systems and customs workflows. Always validate the exact terminal, carrier routing and customs requirements before shipment.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Differences
Several records can represent the same commercial area or related terminals. Lagos, Apapa and Tincan therefore appear as separate indexed records where the operational location or source coding differs.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code on the booking confirmation, bill of lading, customs documents and carrier schedule. The UNECE reference environment and the Ecer Freight port directory provide useful starting points for verification.
Shipping from Nigeria: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative planning ranges only. Final schedules depend on the origin terminal, destination, transshipment, carrier rotation, equipment availability, port congestion and customs procedures.
Nigeria to Northern Europe
A major container and general-cargo corridor connecting Lagos-area gateways with Northern European hubs.
Nigeria to the Mediterranean
Services to Mediterranean hubs support consumer goods, machinery, project cargo and regional distribution.
Nigeria to Asia
Long-haul Asia services commonly move manufactured goods, equipment and project-related cargo through direct or transshipment networks.
Nigeria to West Africa
Regional coastal services connect Nigeria with neighboring Gulf of Guinea markets and may use feeder or short-sea schedules.
Data Sources and Methodology
This page separates first-party indexed coverage from public port statistics. Figures are shown only where a comparable and sufficiently reliable public basis is available.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot from Nov 2026, containing 30 indexed Nigeria ports and terminals.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE framework and location-code reference context.
- Nigerian Ports Authority — official Nigerian port administration and public port information.
- Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency — national maritime administration and shipping-sector reference context.
- United Nations — international trade and maritime statistical context where applicable.
Nigeria Port FAQ
How many seaports does Nigeria have?
Nigeria has 30 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and is not a national operational census.
What is the largest or busiest port area in Nigeria?
The Lagos port cluster is generally Nigeria's leading container and import gateway. The indexed records include Lagos NGLAG, Apapa NGAPA and Tincan NGTIN.
What are the main Nigeria port codes?
Common indexed examples include NGLAG for Lagos, NGAPA for Apapa, NGTIN for Tincan, NGONN for Onne and NGPHA for Port Harcourt. The exact code should be checked against the carrier booking and shipping documents.
Which Nigerian regions handle the most maritime cargo?
The Lagos area is the main container and consumer-market cluster. The Niger Delta and eastern cluster, including Onne and Port Harcourt, has an important energy, project and general-cargo role.
How current is the Nigeria port data?
The Ecer Freight database snapshot is dated Nov 2026. Public throughput and infrastructure figures may follow different reporting calendars; the latest complete statistical year used for this page is 2025 where a comparable source is available.
Are Nigeria port transit times guaranteed?
No. Transit times are indicative planning ranges and remain subject to vessel schedules, transshipment, port conditions, equipment availability, documentation, customs clearance and weather.
How can a shipper request a Nigeria sea freight quotation?
Provide the origin and destination, cargo description, dimensions, weight, container type, Incoterms and planned shipping date through the FCL or LCL quotation pages. Rates and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation.
Editorial note: Nigeria port codes and indexed coverage are maintained from the Ecer Freight database and reviewed against available official and international reference material. Database coverage is updated continuously, while public port statistics and carrier schedules are reviewed as new reliable information becomes available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Nigeria: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact