Nigeria Expanding Port Capacity to Dominate Regional Trade, Says Oyetola
Juliet Akoje In Abuja
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has said Nigeria is expanding its port infrastructure and implementing key maritime reforms aimed at positioning the country as the foremost trade and logistics hub in West and Central Africa.
Oyetola made the disclosure on Monday while inaugurating the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The session is themed “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development.”
The minister stated that the Federal Government had approved the development of additional deep seaports across the country as part of efforts to improve supply chain resilience and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global maritime sector.
According to him, the approvals for new deep seaports are intended to complement existing maritime infrastructure, improve logistics efficiency, and further establish Nigeria as the preferred maritime and logistics centre for West and Central Africa.
Oyetola further noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to modernising the nation’s seaports through infrastructure expansion, digital transformation, and enhanced operational efficiency.
He explained that deliberate policy coordination and improved collaboration among relevant agencies had led to a significant reduction in logistics challenges at the nation’s major ports.
The minister said the measures had resulted in smoother cargo evacuation, shorter vessel waiting periods, improved operational efficiency, and a more stable and predictable environment for investors and port users.
Oyetola described the Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative as a major reform targeted at simplifying cargo clearance processes through the digital integration of government agencies and port operations.
He also revealed plans for extensive upgrades of existing seaports, including channel deepening projects aimed at accommodating larger vessels.
According to him, the planned improvements are essential to ensuring that Nigerian ports remain globally competitive and capable of handling increased trade volumes in the future.
On maritime security, the minister said the implementation of the Deep Blue Project had successfully eliminated piracy in Nigerian waters and significantly curtailed maritime crimes across the Gulf of Guinea.
He added that the development had boosted investor confidence and enhanced the region’s reputation as a safe maritime corridor for international trade.
Oyetola urged participants at the meeting to champion initiatives that would strengthen logistics resilience in port operations and regional supply chains, while promoting sustainable port management, innovation, digital advancement, and inclusive community development connected to maritime activities.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and President of PMAWCA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, said the West and Central African sub-region is currently experiencing a significant revival in maritime infrastructure investment, with over $27 billion in port-related projects either ongoing or recently unveiled.
Dantsoho highlighted several major projects across the region, including the $20 billion Simandou-Morebaya Deep Sea Port project in Guinea, the $2 billion Port San Pedro project in Côte d’Ivoire, and the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos.
He also referenced port development initiatives in Ghana and Senegal, alongside ongoing upgrades at Nigeria’s Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, as well as a $600 million investment by APM Terminals.
He stressed that ports across West and Central Africa must evolve beyond their traditional role as cargo transit points to become major drivers of the blue economy.
According to Dantsoho, the future of the maritime sector lies in emerging areas such as renewable marine energy, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology.
The PMAWCA Board meeting, scheduled to run from May 18 to 20, 2026, attracted several high-profile dignitaries, including Taraba State Governor, Dr. Kefas Agbu; Lagos State Governor, represented by Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, among others.
