The Nigerian federal government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola has announced.
The approval is in addition to the earlier approval for the modernisation and upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, underscoring the Federal Government’s determination to develop a balanced, efficient and competitive national port system.
Minister Oyetola said the latest approval formed part of the administration’s broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector as a major driver of economic growth, trade, investment and employment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This approval marks another important step in our determination to transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlock the enormous economic potential of our ports,” the Minister said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it clear that infrastructure renewal and economic diversification are central to the Renewed Hope Agenda. Modern, efficient, and competitive ports are critical to achieving these objectives because they facilitate trade, support industry, attract investment, and create jobs.”
The Minister said extending the modernisation programme to ports outside Lagos would complement the investments in Apapa and Tin Can Island and help reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos by creating additional efficient gateways for international trade.
He noted that improved infrastructure and operational efficiency at Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports would enhance cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times, improve regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.
“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.
The latest approval is also part of a wider expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure. It comes in addition to the Federal Government’s approvals for the development of new deep seaports, including 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.
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