The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to accelerate the development of deep seaports across the country as part of a broader strategy to modernise maritime infrastructure and position Nigeria as a regional shipping hub.
The NPA also disclosed that the recent rise in Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of ocean-going vessels calling at Nigerian ports is being significantly influenced by operations at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) last week, the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nr Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the government remains fully committed to expanding deep-water port capacity in line with global shipping trends.
Onyemakara explained that the Federal Government is “very serious” about the development of deep seaports in Nigeria, noting that international shipping is increasingly driven by the deployment of larger vessels which require deeper draught facilities.
According to him, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, with its capacity to accommodate large vessels, has become a major driver of current operational performance across Nigerian ports, particularly in terms of cargo throughput and vessel tonnage.
He said the global maritime industry is evolving toward the use of jumbo vessels, adding that countries without adequate deep-sea infrastructure risk being left behind in global trade logistics.
Onyemakara noted that Nigeria’s ongoing port modernisation programme is designed to address this shift by upgrading existing infrastructure and developing new deep seaports that can handle modern shipping requirements.
He added that the current improvements being recorded in port operations are expected to be modest compared to future gains once full modernisation is achieved.
The NPA spokesman further stated that Nigeria possesses the economic scale, population, and market size to emerge as a major maritime hub in Africa, stressing that efficient and modern port systems would naturally attract increased cargo volumes and transshipment activities.
He said the government is creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in the development of deep seaports, pointing to ongoing and planned projects across the country, including the Ibom, Bakassi, Badagry, Ondo, and other deep seaport initiatives.
According to him, most of these projects are being structured under Public-Private Partnership arrangements, with the expectation that private investors will take the lead in funding and execution.
He maintained that the Federal Government’s role is to provide regulation and facilitate investment, while the private sector is expected to drive actual development.
Onyemakara reiterated that the Lekki Deep Sea Port remains a key reference point for what can be achieved when such partnerships are effectively implemented, adding that similar investments across other locations would further strengthen Nigeria’s maritime capacity and regional competitiveness.
