By Peace Udugba
Nigeria is intensifying efforts to reposition its maritime sector and unlock the full potential of the nation’s marine and blue economy through sweeping reforms, infrastructure upgrades and institutional restructuring under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At the centre of the reform drive is a comprehensive plan to modernise the country’s ports, strengthen maritime capacity and establish Nigeria as a leading trade and logistics hub in West Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at an industry stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority�, Abubakar Dantsoho, said Nigeria must move beyond relying solely on its geographical advantage and embrace efficiency, innovation and reliability to remain competitive in the evolving African trade environment.
“The time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria’s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources. Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth,” Dantsoho said.
He noted that under AfCFTA, countries with efficient and technology-driven ports would dominate regional cargo flows, warning that Nigeria risks losing trade opportunities if reforms are not sustained.
“Nigeria’s geographical advantage alone is no longer sufficient. Efficiency, speed, innovation and reliability will define leadership in this new era,” he added.
For decades, Nigeria’s ports have remained the primary gateway for international trade, handling more than 90 per cent of the country’s cargo by volume. However, persistent congestion, poor infrastructure, bureaucratic bottlenecks and inefficient processes have weakened their competitiveness, allowing smaller West African economies to attract a significant share of maritime traffic.
The reform agenda gained momentum following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by the Tinubu administration, a move widely viewed as a strategic attempt to coordinate maritime activities and maximise the country’s estimated $3 trillion blue economy potential.
The ministry, headed by Adegboyega Oyetola, has since launched several initiatives focused on port modernisation, digital transformation and logistics development.
As part of the programme, the House of Representatives approved a $1 billion loan request by President Tinubu for the rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, two of Nigeria’s busiest maritime facilities.
According to the President, the rehabilitation project is aimed at correcting decades of infrastructure decay, improving operational efficiency and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global shipping and regional trade.
At the operational level, the Nigerian Ports Authority has begun implementing upgrades at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, focusing on berth expansion, improved cargo handling systems and faster vessel turnaround times.
Beyond Lagos, procurement processes are already underway for the upgrade of ports in Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar as part of efforts to ensure balanced infrastructure development nationwide.
Oyetola stressed that the reforms are not limited to Lagos alone.
“We are committed to a balanced and inclusive development of port infrastructure across the country,” he said, adding that nationwide port upgrades would improve connectivity and stimulate economic growth across regions.
The government is also encouraging the development of deep seaports in coastal states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Ondo to expand cargo capacity and decongest existing facilities.
Industry experts say the emergence of modern deep seaports, including Lekki Deep Sea Port, is already reshaping Nigeria’s maritime sector by enabling the handling of larger vessels and increasing cargo throughput.
In addition to physical infrastructure, the government is implementing digital reforms aimed at reducing delays and eliminating manual bottlenecks associated with cargo clearance.
Key initiatives include the deployment of a Port Community System and the National Single Window platform, both designed to integrate stakeholders, streamline documentation and improve transparency across port operations.
Stakeholders believe the digital transition could significantly reduce cargo clearance time, lower the cost of doing business and curb corruption within the maritime sector.
The reform agenda also includes improving multimodal transport systems to facilitate seamless cargo evacuation from ports to inland destinations.
Rail integration, inland dry ports, barging operations and dedicated export corridors are being expanded to ease congestion and improve logistics efficiency nationwide.
Dantsoho stressed that efficient hinterland connectivity is essential to sustaining gains made at the ports.
On maritime security, Nigeria has recorded more than four years without piracy incidents, a development attributed to the Deep Blue Project and enhanced maritime surveillance systems.
The improvement in security has boosted investor confidence and created a more stable environment for maritime operations and infrastructure investment.
Private sector participation is also being encouraged through project financing models aimed at bridging funding gaps and accelerating development.
“We are open to private sector participation through project financing. This approach is already improving efficiency and providing access to funding for critical infrastructure,” Dantsoho said.
According to Oyetola, agencies under the ministry increased their combined revenue from about N700.79 billion in 2023 to approximately N1.83 trillion in 2025 due to improved efficiency, transparency and regulatory reforms.
Analysts believe that efficient port operations will reduce logistics costs, support industrialisation and strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, particularly as AfCFTA opens access to broader African markets.
Despite accounting for more than 60 per cent of West Africa’s Gross Domestic Product, Nigeria currently handles only about 25 per cent of the region’s cargo traffic.
Dantsoho described the imbalance as evidence that the country has yet to fully maximise its maritime potential.
“It is worrisome that Nigeria, despite controlling over 60 per cent of West Africa’s GDP, handles only about 25 per cent of the region’s cargo traffic. This clearly shows that we have not fully optimised our potential,” he said.
He expressed optimism that sustained reforms and investments would position Nigeria as a leading maritime logistics hub in Africa.
“With sustained commitment to these initiatives, Nigeria’s port system will enter a new phase and emerge as a leading maritime logistics hub in Africa,” Dantsoho assured.
Although challenges such as infrastructure gaps, funding constraints and bureaucratic inefficiencies remain, stakeholders say the ongoing reforms represent one of the most ambitious efforts in recent years to transform Nigeria’s maritime sector and strengthen its role in regional and continental trade.
