Global shipping company CMA CGM has launched a new direct shipping service linking Northern Europe to Nigeria through Lekki Deep Seaport, providing importers and exporters with faster access to key international markets.The new service, known as KORA
EXPRESS, will operate weekly and is expected to improve cargo movement between Northern Europe and West Africa while strengthening Lekki Port’s position as a major trade gateway in the region.
Under the new route, CMA CGM will deploy 4,200-TEU container vessels that will make direct calls at Lekki Port as part of a schedule connecting major ports in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium with several West African destinations.
The company said the service is expected to cut transit times between Europe and countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic to approximately 15 days, offering customers faster deliveries and improved schedule reliability.
The weekly rotation will cover Southampton, Vlissingen, Antwerp, Tanger Med, Algeciras, Tema, Lekki, Cotonou and Dakar, further expanding Lekki Port’s connectivity to global shipping routes.
CMA CGM also noted that the service will provide seamless access to its international network through its transshipment hubs in Tanger Med, Morocco, and Algeciras, Spain.
The development comes as Lekki Deep Seaport continues to record strong growth in cargo traffic, handling a significant share of Nigeria’s container throughput while steadily increasing its operational capacity.
In addition, CMA CGM announced changes to its EURAF 5 service, which will now focus exclusively on the southern West African corridor, providing direct connections to Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and Angola as part of its regional network expansion.
The company said both services are designed to improve shipping efficiency and provide faster, more reliable logistics solutions for businesses trading across West Africa.
