In a major addition to Nigeria’s maritime industry, the world’s largest shipping line, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has officially launched a new weekly service to Lekki Port.
- Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has launched a weekly shipping service to Nigeria’s Lekki Port.
- The service uses a feeder system, routing cargo through Lomé, Togo before reaching Nigerian ports like Lekki, Apapa, and Tin Can.
- This move offers Nigerian importers and exporters more reliable and frequent access to global markets.
- Lekki Port, Nigeria’s deepest, aims to become a major trade hub for the West African region.
According to a recent report published by Business Day, the inaugural vessel arrived at the port this past Monday, signaling the start of a regular shipping schedule aimed at improving trade efficiency.
Connecting Nigeria to global markets
The new service operates through a “feeder” system, where cargo from MSC’s vast international network is first brought to a hub in Lomé, Togo.
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From there, goods are transported weekly to Lekki Port, as well as the Apapa and Tin Can Ports in Lagos.
This arrangement also benefits Nigerian exporters, as goods leaving Lekki Port will be routed through Lomé to reach key international destinations across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and the Mediterranean.
Local businesses are expected to benefit
The introduction of this weekly service is expected to provide Nigerian importers and exporters with more reliable and frequent access to global shipping routes.
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By establishing a consistent schedule, the service helps reduce delays and provides a more predictable timeline for moving goods in and out of the country.
This development follows another recent success for the port, which just last week welcomed its first vessel from the HMM and Ocean Network Express (ONE) alliance.
A vision for a regional gateway
Lekki Port, which stands as Nigeria’s deepest seaport, is positioned to become a central hub for trade in the West African region.
The addition of world-class shipping partners like MSC is a key part of the port’s long-term strategy to lead the maritime sector.
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As reported by Business Day, Wang Qiang, the managing director of Lekki Port, emphasized the importance of this new partnership. He noted,
“The commencement of MSC’s weekly feeder service is another important milestone in our journey to establish Lekki Port as the leading transshipment and gateway port in West Africa”.
He then added as published by the Vanguard that “this service provides our customers with faster, more efficient and reliable access to MSC’s extensive global shipping network through Lomé, creating new opportunities for Nigerian businesses to expand their reach into international markets while enhancing the competitiveness of the country’s import and export trade.”
MSC’s presence in Africa
According to information from the official MSC website, the company has a massive footprint across the continent.
MSC services 35 maritime African countries and maintains offices in more than 45 countries.
Their network includes 72 ocean services and local feeders, resulting in 166 weekly stops at 65 different ports across Africa.
