Administration was transferred to the Nigerian government upon the granting of self-government and In 2005, the complex was divided into terminals and contracted out to private operators with NPA acting as the landlord and regulator.
In 1926, following the completion of four berths totaling 1,800 ft in length, Apapa began to dominate the other wharves at Iddo and Lagos Island otherwise as Customs wharf in the shipment of export goods.
[4] During this period, control of the port complex was diffused, the Marine department was in charge of maintaining passage, storage and berthing of ships, private shipping firms performed lightering services while the railway corporation also performed port operations at its terminus.
After the second extension, the land area of the wharf was about 100 hectares with the ability to handle twenty loading or discharging vessels at a time.
In 2005, the complex was divided into multiple terminals and sold to private operators to manage for a set number of years.
[7] These specialised facilities have more than 10 berths for handling grain, machinery, construction materials and perishables such as food, minerals, fertilisers, flour, salt, sugar, etc.
[8] The port's container terminal covers an area of 55 hectares and has a total quay length of 1,005 metres.
[7] When the deep water berths of Apapa quays was completed in 1926, it was envisioned that a large amount of traffic would be by rail.