{
  "id": 9031594,
  "title": "Vehicle imports rise 42.5% after levy reduction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/vehicle-imports-rise-42-5-after-levy-reduction",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T23:28:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/vehicle-imports-rise-42-5-after-levy-reduction/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has witnessed a 42.5% surge in imported vehicle handling during the first half of 2026, with 103,375 units recorded between January and June as compared to 72,568 units in the same period of 2025. The reduction in levies on imported vehicles has been cited as the primary reason for the increase in vehicle imports, according to stakeholders in the maritime sector. NPA Managing Director Dr Abubakar Dantsoho highlighted the growth, which was attributed to the transshipment activity at the Ports & Terminal Multiservice Limited Terminal on Tin Can Island Port. The NPA's performance metrics showed an overall positive trend, with vessel calls rising by 6.9% to 2,152, gross registered earnings increasing by 20.9% to 96,693,108, and cargo throughput reaching 68,294,210 metric tons, marking a 12.2% growth from the previous year. Lekki Port led the pack, experiencing a 48.4% increase in vessel calls and handling nearly 40% of total national cargo throughput. The NPA boss expressed optimism about the growth trajectory, emphasizing that the Dangote Refinery accounted for approximately 40% of total annual port traffic, with plans for further expansion to accommodate the increasing cargo volumes.",
  "summary": "The Nigerian Ports Authority reported a 42.5% increase in vehicle imports during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with 103,375 units handled at various ports. The Nigerian Ports Authority's Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, attributed this surge to the reduction in levies on imported vehicles, as well as transshipment activity at the Ports & Terminal Multiservice Limited Terminal on Tin Can Island Port. Additionally, vessel calls at Nigerian ports rose by 6.9%, gross registered earnings increased by 20.9%, and total cargo throughput across the nation's ports rose by 12.2%.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}