Lekki Freeport Terminal

What Lekki Freeport Terminal does

Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) is the container terminal operator for Lekki Deep Sea Port, located within the Lagos Free Zone at Ibeju-Lekki, approximately 65 km east of Lagos, Nigeria. As Nigeria's first deep sea port, LFT operates modern infrastructure including post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, RTG cranes, yard chassis, empty handlers, reach stackers, forklifts, and 530+ reefer plugs with 24/7 monitoring, enabling it to handle the largest container vessels in global trade. Services span quayside operations, yard management, automated gate and vehicle booking, reefer management, VGM weighing, barge handling, and breakbulk/out-of-gauge cargo.

The company's commercial offering is supported by an integrated digital platform that includes an Automated Gate System with truck RFID, a Vehicle Booking System (VBS), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) integration, a Client Wallet for transaction management, Dynamic TDO (Terminal Delivery Order), and a Track & Trace system providing import availability, export booking enquiry, and container event history. These tools collectively provide real-time cargo visibility from vessel berthing through gate delivery, and they automate truck appointment booking to reduce turnaround time.

LFT generates revenue primarily through transaction-based fees per container or vessel call, with usage-based pricing for reefer plug occupancy. Its customer base consists of international container shipping lines — including CMA CGM (which is also a partial owner), Maersk, Cosco Shipping, ZIM, and ONE — alongside cargo owners, truckers, and clearing agents. Distribution extends beyond the terminal itself via approved rail linkage to Nigeria's West-to-East network, barge corridors to river ports and jetties, and ground transport. CMA CGM's ownership stake provides both capital backing and anchor shipping volumes, positioning LFT within a global shipping-line strategic alliance while it pursues hinterland expansion across West Africa.

Name

Lekki Freeport Terminal

Legal name

Lekki Freeport Terminal

Website

https://lft-ng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Lekki Freeport Terminal operates Nigeria's first deep sea container port at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, providing automated quayside, yard, and gate services to global shipping lines and cargo owners via post-Panamax cranes and an integrated digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Container Terminal Operations

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Container Terminal Operating Services & Management (Terminal Operator / Concessionaire) (TLAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB), Deep-Sea Container Terminals (Mainline / Transshipment Hubs) (TLAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Container terminal operations
• Deep sea port services
• Cargo handling
• Maritime logistics
• Port automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lekki

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Container Terminal Operations: Revenue generated from handling container vessels including quayside operations (vessel berthing, discharge, loading), yard operations (container storage, stacking), and gate operations (truck gate-in/out). Fees are charged per container or per vessel call based on terminal tariff schedules.
2. Automated Gate Services: Vehicle booking and gate processing services for truckers and clearing agents accessing the terminal.
3. Reefer Container Management: Specialized refrigerated container handling with 530+ plugs, 24/7 monitoring, charged per plug usage or duration of stay.
4. Weighing Services: VGM (Verified Gross Mass) certification and weighing services for export shipments.
5. Barge Handling Services: Barge discharge and load operations for inland waterway transportation to corridors within Nigeria.
6. Breakbulk & OOG Handling: Specialized handling for breakbulk cargo and out-of-gauge shipments requiring custom lifting and stowage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lekki Freeport Terminal operates Nigeria's first deep sea container terminal at Lekki Deep Sea Port, providing quayside vessel handling, automated yard management, gate operations, reefer container management, barge handling, breakbulk and out-of-gauge cargo handling, and VGM weighing services. These physical terminal operations are supported by an integrated digital platform that includes a Vehicle Booking System, online Terminal Delivery Order, EDI integration, automated gate with RFID, client wallet billing, and real-time vessel and cargo tracking for international shipping lines, cargo owners, truckers, and clearing agents.

Product overview

Lekki Freeport Terminal operates as Nigeria's premier deep sea port providing a unified platform of integrated container terminal management services. The core offering consists of port operations (Quayside & Yard Operations, Reefer Management, Barge Handling, Breakbulk & OOGs, Weighing Services) supported by a suite of digital tools including the Vessel Schedule, Vehicle Booking System (VBS), Client Wallet, EDI File Submit, Generate Invoice, Service Request, TDO Request, and Cargo Tracking modules. The Automated Gate Service connects to the VBS for truck appointment booking. These products work together as an end-to-end terminal management ecosystem covering vessel berthing, cargo handling, gate operations, billing, and cargo visibility from vessel arrival to delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quayside & Yard Operations

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced truck turnaround time through automated gate and vehicle booking system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• River Ports and Jetties (West and East Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships established with river ports and jetties in West and East of Nigeria to expand intermodal connectivity and hinterland access through inland waterway transportation.
• Barge and Truck Haulage Associations of NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarge and truck haulage associations have become stakeholders in LFT hinterlands projects, enabling seamless cargo evacuation and inland transportation connections.
• Nigerian Ministry of TransportflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nigerian Minister of Transport has approved the direct linking of LFT to the national rail network that traverses from West to East of Nigeria, providing strategic intermodal connectivity.
• MaerskcoreOthersMajor global container shipping line operating vessels at Lekki Freeport Terminal.
• Cosco ShippingcoreOthersMajor global container shipping line operating vessels at Lekki Freeport Terminal.
• ZIMcoreOthersMajor global container shipping line operating vessels at Lekki Freeport Terminal.
• ONE (Ocean Network Express)coreOthersMajor global container shipping line operating vessels at Lekki Freeport Terminal.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cosco Shipping Ports: Terminal-handling arm of Cosco Shipping (a customer of LFT). Operates container terminals globally, comparable in scope and shipping-line relationships, and a relevant peer given Cosco's growing intra-Africa presence.
• APM Terminals: Global container terminal operator and subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk (one of LFT's largest customers). Operates terminals worldwide including in West Africa (Apapa, Nigeria), making it the most direct functional peer and the principal alternative hub for Maersk's regional volume.
• CMA CGM Terminals: Terminal-handling arm of CMA CGM, which is both a part-owner of LFT and a global terminal operator. Comparable in operational scope (container handling, yard, quay equipment) and ships the same CMA CGM controlled volumes that anchor at Lekki.
• Hutchison Ports: CK Hutchison's global port arm operating container terminals across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Comparable deep-water container terminal operator with similar post-Panamax capabilities and customer overlap with global shipping lines.
• SSA Marine: Global container terminal operator with presence in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Comparable in operating mid-to-large container terminals for international shipping lines, with similar equipment and automation profiles.
• International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI): Philippines-based global container terminal operator with operations in Africa and emerging markets. Comparable business model — greenfield terminal concessions with automated equipment serving international shipping lines — and competes directly for the same carrier capital.

Emerging players

• Bolloré Ports: French logistics group with deep African port and terminal operations including Freetown, Conakry, and other West African facilities. Directly comparable regional peer in West African container terminal operations and hinterland logistics.

Broad incumbents

• PSA International: Singapore-headquartered global port operator with terminal concessions worldwide. Operates deep-water container terminals serving top global carriers — a natural functional peer in terminal management, automation, and shipping-line relationships.
• China Merchants Port Holdings: Major global container terminal operator with significant Africa exposure. Comparable scale of post-Panamax infrastructure investment and shipping-line customer base; competes for the same carrier deployments across West and Central Africa.
• DP World: One of the world's largest port operators with deep African footprint (including Dakar, Sokhna, Berbera). Operates container terminals with similar quayside, yard, and gate functions and competes for the same shipping-line customers as LFT.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=I7KCG6f9hGw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lekki-freeport-terminal
• Xx.com/LFTerminal_ng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lekki Freeport Terminal