By Peter Dansu The Federal Government has completed all approval, certification and compliance processes for the proposed Badagry Deep Seap...
By Peter Dansu
The Federal Government has completed all approval, certification and compliance processes for the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport and four other deep seaport projects as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector and recover over 70 per cent of cargo revenue currently lost to neighbouring countries.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the end of the three-day meeting of Managing Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa and the Port Statisticians Network held in Lagos.
According to Dantsoho, the approved projects include the Badagry Deep Seaport, Olokola Deep Sea Port, Ibom Deep Sea Port, Bakassi Deep Sea Port and Bonny Deep Sea Port.
He explained that although negotiations with investors are still ongoing because of the huge financial requirements involved, the Federal Government has already completed the regulatory and administrative processes needed to move the projects towards implementation.
“In terms of approvals, certifications and compliance issues, we have taken care of five different deep-sea ports in Nigeria,” Dantsoho said.
He noted that the projects are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to receive larger cargo vessels, improve trade operations and expand the country’s role as a regional logistics hub for West and Central Africa.
Dantsoho stated that Nigeria currently accounts for more than 70 per cent of cargo traffic within the West and Central African sub-region, while neighbouring landlocked countries including Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso also rely partly on Nigerian ports for access to international trade.
He added that the government is implementing short, medium and long-term strategies aimed at improving port efficiency through the rehabilitation of existing ports, deployment of technology-driven systems and development of modern deep-sea infrastructure.
The NPA boss also observed that countries such as Ghana, Senegal and the Benin Republic are rapidly modernising their port facilities to meet increasing global shipping demands and remain competitive in the maritime sector.
According to him, member countries of the regional port association have resolved to deepen the deployment of technology-driven solutions such as the National Single Window platform and Port Community Systems to speed up cargo clearance and reduce delays at ports across the region.
Speaking at the closing session of the meeting, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, represented by the Director of Maritime Services at the ministry, Oyinloye Meshack, stressed the need for stronger regional collaboration, strategic investments and inclusive development to transform ports and maritime operations across West and Central Africa.
Oyetola said discussions during the conference highlighted the importance of joint action among African countries in addressing supply chain disruptions, climate-related pressures and the transition to greener shipping systems.
He added that the conference theme, “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development,” reflects the urgent need to make African ports more competitive and future-ready.
The minister also pointed to the success of the Lekki Deep Sea Port as evidence of what can be achieved through strategic investment, innovation and effective collaboration between the public and private sectors.
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