Ship chandlers & ship supply at Lagos NGLOS

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reported 129.3 million tonnes of cargo through Nigeria’s ports in 2025 (+24.8%), 4,477 ship calls and 2.1 million TEU. Lekki carried 40.6% of throughput and Apapa 16.7%, while Tin Can took 22.7% of ship arrivals.^[1]

—Lagos Port Complex (Apapa) operates 24 hours daily, with five private terminals — APM Terminals, ENL, ABTL, GDNL and Lilypond ICT — and eight jetties. NPA’s pilotage document gives berth depths of 10.2–14.4 m (ABTL 1–5), 9.6–11.5 m (ENL 6–14), 12.7–13.5 m (APM Terminals 15–18) and 10.3–11.3 m (GDNL 19–20).^[2,3]

—Tin Can Island: NPA’s berth table lists quay lengths of 437–777 m per terminal with maximum depths of 9–11 m; the pilotage document lists berths 1–12 at 10.4–13.1 m. Check the berth with your agent before fixing a deep draught.^[4,3]

—Lekki Deep Sea Port, operated by Lekki Freeport Terminal (CHEC 70%, Tolaram 30%), has a 680 m quay taking two ships of up to 366 m. NPA’s project page says the channels were to be dredged initially to 14 m and basins to 13.5 m, with marine structures designed for 16.5 m draft; BusinessDay reported 16.5 m in July 2025.^[6,5]

—Oil terminals in the pilotage district: the SBM midstream (14.5 m) and the Atlas Cove jetty (14.0 m).^[3]

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels except those below 500 GT holding a Pilotage Exemption Certificate; tankers and ships carrying IMDG cargo must have a pilot on board. Pilots are provided on request from the appointed agent to the Harbour Master, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and board only from a pilot cutter (green hull, cream superstructure, marked PILOT). These rules are from the NPA’s Lagos Pilotage District document published in 2019.^[3]

—ETA must be given 12 hours before arrival; amendments are accepted up to 4 hours before.^[3]

—The Lagos fairway buoy lies at 06°21.91′N 003°24.79′E (white light, Morse “A”, IALA region A); pilot boarding approaches are given 1 nm south-west, south-east and south of it. Charts BA 2812 and BA 1381.^[3]

—All vessels call Lagos Port Control on VHF 12, 14 and 16 (11 traffic control, 12 arrivals and departures, 13 pilots, tugs and beach masters, 14 port operations). Towage inside port limits is booked and carried out under an NPA pilot’s supervision.^[3]

—Turning basins: Tin Can about 400 m across (safe swinging draft at ebb 11 m for ships under 220 m, 10 m above); Apapa about 360 m (10 m and 9.5 m).^[3]

—The IMB recorded 21 incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in 2025, against 18 in 2024 and 22 in 2023, with 23 crew kidnapped in four incidents across the region.^[7]

—NIMASA described the April 2025 boarding of the Sea Panther south-west of Brass as the first attempted sea robbery in Nigerian waters since 2021. Follow current BMP West Africa guidance and your agent’s advice on anchorage and launch movements.^[8]

—An appointed agent — pilots, berthing and towage are booked through the agent with the Harbour Master.^[3]

—Waste: NIMASA lists port reception facilities for MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V and oversees offshore reception for ships that do not come alongside; for disposal, NPA’s pilotage document says to contact Pollution Control via Port Operations on VHF 12, 14 or 16.^[9,3]

—Fuel: port directories list delivery by barge or road tanker, with notice required. Nominate through your agent and confirm the supplier’s licences before committing.^[10]

—Paperwork: Nigeria’s National Single Window went live in phase 1 on 27 March 2026 for licences, permits and certificates, with manifest integration to follow.^[11]

—Provisions, deck and engine stores, spares and fresh water: post a requirement and suppliers serving Lagos answer with sealed bids — Apapa, Tin Can, Lekki or the anchorage. Suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships in Lagos, activate Lagos.