The federal government is set to embark on the most ambitious seaport modernisation programme in more than five decades, with plans to rebuild six major ports across the country to reduce cargo-handling delays, lower logistics costs and boost trade competitiveness.
The minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2026 Transport Industry Summit of the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN), held in Lagos.
Oyetola who was represented by the Director Inland Transport Services, Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Paul Garnuwa, said the programme, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would cover Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, Onne Port, Rivers Port, Calabar Port and Warri Port.
End Port Bottlenecks, Set World-class Benchmarks, Oyedele Charges Customs
Shippers’ Council Acknowledges Operators’ $600m Apapa Port Expansion Proposal
The modernisation plan includes reconstruction of quay walls, deepening of port channels to accommodate larger vessels, replacement of obsolete cargo-handling equipment and further digitalisation of terminal and gate operations.
He said the initiative was aimed at expanding port capacity, improving vessel turnaround time and cargo handling, and ensuring that Nigeria’s maritime gateways meet the demands of modern international trade.
Speaking on the summit theme, “Unlocking Economic Growth Through Transportation Logistics,” the minister said port efficiency was critical to the performance of the wider transport chain, including roads, rail, inland waterways, warehouses and distribution networks.
He noted that delays at the ports have far-reaching consequences for manufacturers awaiting raw materials, exporters waiting for vessels, transport operators, distributors and consumers.
According to him, the modernisation programme is expected to deliver shorter vessel turnaround times, more predictable cargo movement and a more competitive trading environment.
Oyetola said Nigeria’s port reforms were already yielding international recognition, citing the 2025 Container Port Performance Index produced by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence.
He disclosed that Tin Can Island Port ranked 10th, while Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, placed 12th among the world’s 20 most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.
The index measures port performance principally through vessel time in port, providing a data-based assessment of operational efficiency.
While describing the rankings as encouraging, the minister said sustaining the gains would require continued reforms and investments in port infrastructure and operations.
Oyetola also highlighted the removal of the United States Coast Guard’s Conditions of Entry on vessels arriving from Nigeria in August 2026, ending 12 years of additional security-related requirements imposed on Nigerian ports.
He said the development followed sustained efforts to strengthen compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, improve access controls and address identified security gaps.
According to him, the removal of the restrictions would strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s port-security arrangements and eliminate additional procedures that had affected vessels travelling from Nigerian ports to the United States.
On plans to expand the country’s maritime capacity, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government was working with state governments and private-sector partners to advance deep seaport projects in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states.
He said the projects were designed to expand port capacity, create additional maritime and logistics corridors, ease pressure on existing gateways and bring economic activities closer to coastal communities.
Oyetola stressed that collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and private investors would be critical to delivering the projects, noting that the Federal Government would provide regulatory support, facilitate inter-agency coordination and promote viable public-private partnerships.
The minister further identified the enactment of the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Act 2026 as a major reform to strengthen the regulatory environment and improve efficiency across the ports.
He said the establishment of NPERA as the statutory economic regulator provides a permanent framework for regulating tariffs and charges, service standards, competition and the protection of port users.
According to him, the new framework would provide clearer rules for terminal operators, shipping lines and logistics service providers, while offering port users a more structured mechanism for resolving commercial and regulatory disputes.
The minister, however, emphasised that infrastructure development alone would not deliver the desired reduction in logistics costs without improved security, technology, regulation and coordination across the transport system.
He said the ministry would continue to support greater use of inland waterways, improved maritime infrastructure and stronger coordination with agencies responsible for roads, rail and other modes of transportation.
Oyetola added that digitalisation would remain central to the reform agenda, with emphasis on electronic documentation, cargo visibility, accurate information and data-sharing among supply chain operators.
He said the objective was to reduce unnecessary physical processes, improve predictability and enable businesses to plan their logistics more effectively.
The minister called on the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, state governments and industry associations to support the government’s efforts, stressing that sustainable improvements in the maritime sector required collective action.
He also urged transport journalists to sustain informed reporting and constructive scrutiny of government policies and projects, given the sector’s technical nature, capital intensity and direct connection to the cost of doing business.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure that the investments and institutional changes now underway translate into practical improvements: faster cargo movement, improved vessel turnaround, greater capacity, stronger security, transparent regulation and lower logistics costs,” Oyetola said.
He added that measurable outcomes would remain central to assessing the impact of the ministry’s reforms on Nigeria’s economic growth.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
