"West and Central Africa is witnessing an unprecedented wave of investments capable of redefining its economic future," declared Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, at the PMAWCA board session in Lagos on 18 May 2026.
The Scale of Investment: $27B in Strategic Projects
The regional port expansion wave represents a deliberate shift to position African gateways as competitive global hubs. According to PMAWCA leadership, flagship projects include the $20 billion Simandou-Morebaya Deep Sea Port in Guinea, the $2 billion Port San Pedro expansion in Côte d'Ivoire, the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, the $1.5 billion Tema port developments in Ghana, and the $1.2 billion Ndayane Port in Dakar. Nigeria is simultaneously upgrading legacy infrastructure: the Apapa and Tin Can Island port rehabilitation accounts for $1 billion, complemented by a $600 million APM Terminals investment.
These commitments exceed typical regional infrastructure cycles and signal structural confidence from global terminal operators, development finance institutions, and African sovereign wealth. The aggregate $27+ billion pipeline reflects recognition that West and Central African ports can no longer function as secondary gateways—they must become competitive hubs capable of absorbing mega-vessels and handling transshipment corridors. For procurement leaders sourcing fuel, spares, and maritime services, this capital influx translates into upgraded bunker facilities, expanded warehousing, and modernized supply-chain protocols at each major terminal.
Lekki's Momentum: Nigeria's Deep-Water Anchor
Nigeria's Lekki Deep Sea Port has become the operational centrepiece of the regional expansion. Commissioned in 2023 at a cost of USD1.53 billion (fixed assets) plus USD800 million (construction), the facility has recorded a 2,160 per cent year-on-year increase in throughput as of mid-2025. According to the 2025 NPA Operational Performance Report, Lekki now handles 40.6 per cent of Nigeria's total cargo throughput—the largest single-port share in the country. The port features a 16.5-metre draft (the deepest in West Africa), a 680-metre quay, and three container berths, three liquid bulk berths, and one dry bulk berth. Lekki Freeport Terminal, a subsidiary of global container operator CMA CGM, manages the container terminal.
Container traffic through Nigerian ports grew by 25.7 per cent overall in 2025, with transshipment containers surging 205.8 per cent—a structural shift signalling Lekki's emergence as a regional logistics node. Lagos State Government has now announced Phase 2 expansion: the quay will extend to 1,500 metres and draft will deepen to 19.5 metres. For ship suppliers and procurement managers, Lekki's scale and CMA CGM operational model create a predictable, modernized sourcing environment—eliminating the manual friction and congestion that characterize older West African terminals. Vessel turnaround time has improved, and container dwell time averages 12–13 days (against the 18–20-day regional average).
Tema Terminal 3: Ghana's Transshipment Gateway
Ghana's Port of Tema has undergone a parallel transformation through Terminal 3, a joint venture between Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), APM Terminals, and Africa Global Logistics (an MSC subsidiary). Commissioned in 2019, Terminal 3 has now completed Phases 1 and 2, delivering a 1,400-metre quay, four berths, and 127 hectares of terminal area. The facility's total capacity stands at 3.7 million TEU (vs. pre-expansion total port capacity of around 800,000 TEU). The terminal's 16-metre draft accommodates mega-ships of 15,000 containers or more, creating a transshipment hub that competes directly with regional peers like Abidjan, Lomé, and Dakar.
A USD 150 million Phase 2 investment (announced November 2023) added 15 additional gantry cranes and 270,000 square metres of storage area. Tema has become the first port of call in West Africa under the Maersk-CMA CGM West Africa Express (WAX) service on Far East–West Africa maritime routes—a designation that shortens transshipment times for landlocked Central and West African countries. For procurement teams sourcing provisions and repair services, Tema's digital infrastructure—integrated customs clearance, automated gates, and real-time performance dashboards—enables faster crew clearances and more efficient spare-parts logistics. The terminal's integration of APM Terminals and MSC operational standards also ensures compatibility with global shipping lines and standardized supply protocols.
Douala Dry Bulk Terminal: Central Africa's Gateway
Cameroon's Port of Douala—handling 80 per cent of the nation's bulk cargo and 85 per cent of national trade volumes—is the focal point for Central Africa's dry bulk expansion. In February 2026, AD Ports Group (a UAE-based global port operator) joined Africa Ports Development's 30-year concession to design, build, and operate a new dry bulk terminal. AD Ports Group's phase 1 investment is approximately USD 87 million (AED 320 million), with construction scheduled for 2026–2028. The terminal will comprise two berths, approximately 450 metres of quay wall, and 4 million tonnes annual handling capacity for clinker, gypsum, fertiliser, and grain.
The Douala project addresses sustained demand for bulk commodity handling and strengthens Cameroon's role as the gateway to landlocked Central African markets. The terminal is expected to create up to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs, supporting both port operations and industrial hinterland development. For suppliers sourcing dry-bulk handling equipment, documentation systems, and port labour coordination, the Douala expansion creates procurement entry points into Central Africa's mineral, agricultural, and industrial supply chains—historically underserved by modern port infrastructure. The project's 30-year concession structure also signals long-term stability and predictability for suppliers seeking to anchor regional operations.
Procurement Shifts: Supplier Access, Equipment Demand, and Hinterland Logistics
The $27 billion wave reshapes procurement patterns across three dimensions. First, upgraded facilities are driving demand for specialized ship-supply categories: bunkering infrastructure at deep-water terminals like Lekki and Tema now requires VLSFO and biofuel handling systems; automated container terminals necessitate real-time provisioning for ship-to-shore cranes and rubber-tyred gantries; dry bulk terminals demand dust suppression and clinker-specific handling equipment. Second, the emergence of three competing regional hubs (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon) is fragmenting supplier geography. Previously, shippers consolidated West African sourcing in Lomé or Abidjan; now, Lekki's 16.5-metre draft, Tema's transshipment connectivity, and Douala's bulk specialization create incentives to source locally and reduce hinterland distances. Third, digital transformation is reshaping procurement timelines: National Single Window systems and automated cargo clearing reduce dwell times, but they demand supplier coordination with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and terminal operators who must embed into these digital ecosystems.
Hinterland logistics remain the critical gap. Industry analysis notes that
