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The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports, shifting part of its port renewal drive to the eastern corridor to reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos.
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Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the move would strengthen the eastern ports as alternative gateways for international trade.
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The approval builds on the earlier decision to modernise Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, as the Federal Government seeks to develop a more balanced and competitive national port system capable of handling growing trade volumes.
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The port upgrade is part of a wider maritime infrastructure strategy that includes the development of new deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states, alongside efforts to integrate ports with roads, rail and inland waterways.
September 27, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports, as part of efforts to decongest the Lagos ports and create more efficient gateways for international trade.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the approval on Sunday, describing it as another major step in the Federal Government’s programme to transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.
The latest approval extends the port modernisation programme beyond Lagos, where the government had earlier approved the upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
According to Oyetola, expanding the programme to the eastern ports is aimed at reducing the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos while strengthening alternative gateways capable of supporting international trade and regional economic activity.
He said the upgrade would improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround time, enhance regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.
“This approval marks another important step in our determination to transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlock the enormous economic potential of our ports,” Oyetola said.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu had made infrastructure renewal and economic diversification central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that modern, efficient and competitive ports were critical to facilitating trade, supporting industries, attracting investment and creating jobs.
Oyetola added that the ports being upgraded had strategic roles in Nigeria’s trade, industrial and regional development, saying the government was determined to equip them to meet the demands of a growing economy.
“These ports have strategic roles to play in our trade, industrial and regional development, and we are determined to equip them to meet the demands of a growing economy,” he said.
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Wider Maritime Expansion
The minister said the latest approval formed part of a broader expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, which includes the development of new deep seaports across different parts of the country.
Among the projects are the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River State, Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa State, Gateway Deep Seaport in Ogun State, Ondo Deep Seaport in Ondo State and Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.
Oyetola said the simultaneous modernisation of existing ports and development of new deep seaports would expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity and create stronger economic corridors across the country.
“Our approach is comprehensive. We are modernising existing ports while facilitating the development of new deep seaports. This will give Nigeria greater capacity to handle increasing volumes of trade, attract investment and position our country as a major maritime and logistics hub in Africa,” he said.
He said the government was also working towards an integrated maritime and logistics system in which ports, roads, rail, inland waterways and other transport infrastructure would work together to facilitate the seamless movement of cargo.
“Our ambition is to build a port system that is efficient, transparent and globally competitive. We want Nigerian businesses to spend less time and resources moving their goods, while creating an environment that encourages investment and supports job creation,” the minister said.
Background
Lagos remains Nigeria’s dominant maritime gateway, with major cargo activities concentrated around its ports. The concentration has continued to place pressure on port infrastructure and the transport network linking the ports to other parts of the country.
The Federal Government’s decision to expand modernisation to the eastern ports is therefore designed to increase capacity at alternative maritime gateways and distribute cargo-handling activities more widely across the country.
The move is also expected to strengthen economic activities around the eastern and South-South corridors, while giving importers, exporters and other businesses additional routes for moving goods.
Oyetola reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with state governments, terminal operators, investors, shipping companies and other stakeholders to ensure that the projects translate into tangible improvements in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
“Nigeria has the geography, market and maritime resources to become a leading maritime hub.
“Our responsibility is to provide the infrastructure, policies and enabling environment to turn that potential into sustainable economic value. This is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is about,” he added.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
