FG Expands Port Overhaul Nationwide, Targets Eastern Upgrades, New Deep Seaports

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola (5th from left), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Fatima Mahmood and Heads of Government Agencies under the Ministry during the 2026 first quarter stakeholders engagement in Lagos on Monday.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to a nationwide overhaul of Nigeria’s port infrastructure, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, declaring that the ongoing port modernisation programme extends far beyond Lagos and encompasses key maritime hubs across the country.
Speaking at a high-level citizens’ and stakeholders’ engagement, alongside a sectoral performance review and ministerial retreat in Lagos, Oyetola addressed growing concerns over perceived regional imbalance in port investments. He clarified that the Federal Government’s strategy is deliberately structured to ensure inclusive and balanced infrastructure development across Nigeria’s maritime corridor.
“Let me address a concern that has been raised in some quarters — that our focus is limited to Lagos ports. This is not the case,” the Minister stated, setting the tone for what he described as a “holistic transformation” of the nation’s port architecture.
Oyetola revealed that procurement processes are already underway for the modernisation of major eastern and southern ports, including those in Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Calabar. These projects are expected to run concurrently with the already approved upgrades of flagship ports in Lagos such as Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port.
Industry analysts note that the expansion of modernisation efforts to eastern ports could significantly ease pressure on Lagos ports, which currently handle the bulk of Nigeria’s maritime trade, often resulting in congestion, delays, and increased logistics costs.
Beyond physical infrastructure upgrades, Oyetola described the initiative as a transformative economic intervention under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He explained that the reforms are designed to improve port efficiency, reduce vessel turnaround time, and enhance cargo handling capacity—key indicators that influence Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
In a major policy push, the Minister also disclosed that approvals have been secured for the development of new deep seaports in Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Akwa Ibom State, and Ondo State. These greenfield projects are expected to open up underutilised coastal assets and attract fresh investments into Nigeria’s maritime economy.
Providing further insight into the initiative, Dr Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister, emphasised that the projects will play a critical role in decongesting existing ports while unlocking new economic corridors.
According to him, the development of additional deep seaports will not only expand Nigeria’s shipping capacity but also position the country as a strategic maritime gateway for West and Central Africa—an ambition long pursued but constrained by infrastructure limitations.
Economic experts believe that the success of the port modernisation programme could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s broader economic diversification agenda. Improved port efficiency is expected to lower the cost of imports and exports, enhance supply chain reliability, and boost investor confidence across sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics.
The initiative also aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria, particularly within the trade and transport ecosystem.
As implementation gathers momentum, stakeholders across the maritime industry will be closely watching timelines, funding structures, and execution capacity—critical factors that will determine whether the ambitious nationwide port transformation delivers its promised economic impact.
Nigeria expands port modernisation beyond Lagos as Minister Adegboyega Oyetola unveils upgrades for eastern ports and plans for new deep-seaports to boost trade and efficiency.
FG intensifies nationwide port modernisation with upgrades in Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Calabar, alongside new deep seaports to enhance trade, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.