Lekki Port Launches Direct Northern Europe Shipping Route
Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port has taken another significant step towards becoming a leading maritime hub in West Africa with the launch of a direct shipping service connecting the port to Northern Europe, reducing cargo transit time to just 15 days.
The new service, known as KORA EXPRESS, is being operated by global shipping giant CMA CGM and will provide a weekly direct connection between major European ports and West Africa, offering importers and exporters faster, more reliable access to international markets.
The route links key ports in the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands with destinations across West Africa, including Lekki Port, creating one of the quickest sea freight corridors between Northern Europe and Nigeria.
According to CMA CGM, the service will deploy 4,200-TEU container vessels on a fixed weekly schedule, calling at Southampton, Vlissingen, Antwerp, Tanger Med, Algeciras, Tema, Lekki, Cotonou and Dakar. The shipping line said customers will also benefit from smooth connections to its wider global network through transhipment hubs in Morocco and Spain.
The introduction of the service is expected to significantly reduce delivery times, improve supply chain efficiency and minimise delays that have long affected cargo movement between Europe and Nigeria.
The development further reinforces Lekki Port’s growing importance in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Data from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) shows the deep seaport now handles more than 40 per cent of the country’s cargo throughput, reflecting its increasing role in facilitating international trade.
Port officials also revealed that Lekki Port is currently operating at about 50 per cent of its installed capacity, providing ample room to accommodate future growth as shipping volumes continue to rise.
In addition to launching KORA EXPRESS, CMA CGM announced a reorganisation of its regional operations by redesigning its EURAF 5 service to focus on Southern West Africa, covering Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and Angola. The company said the move would improve network efficiency and deliver more tailored logistics solutions across the region.
Industry experts believe the direct Northern Europe connection will strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness by lowering shipping costs, accelerating cargo delivery and giving businesses quicker access to European markets, while further establishing Lekki Port as a strategic gateway for commerce in West Africa.
