By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector have canvassed that Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as the leading maritime and trade gateway in West and Central Africa can only be achieved through comprehensive, end-to-end modernisation of its seaports.
They made the submission at the 4th Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) 2026 in Lagos, where concerns over port charges, infrastructure, cargo evacuation, regulation, security and hinterland connectivity dominated discussions.
Delivering the keynote address, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Coordination and Head, Central Delivery Coordination Unit, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, said port modernisation must be measured by tangible improvements in cargo movement, vessel turnaround time, logistics costs and export capacity rather than the amount of money invested in infrastructure.
Usman identified six critical dimensions of port modernisation, including infrastructure and operational models, modern equipment, digitalisation, institutional reform, human capital development and commercial modernisation involving tariffs, concessions, investment and service quality.
According to her, Nigeria’s seaports handle more than four-fifths of the country’s physical imports and exports, making their efficiency critical to the wider economy.
She warned that high port costs ultimately affect ordinary Nigerians, noting that when the cost of using the ports rises, it is reflected in the price of goods, the landed cost of raw materials and the wider economy.
Usman said recent improvements in Nigerian ports were encouraging, citing the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Container Port Performance Index, which ranked Tin Can Island Port 10th globally and Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, 12th among the world’s most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.
She, however, stressed that the progress must be consolidated through sustained investment and measurable performance.
The former NPA boss said the reconstruction of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, rehabilitation of eastern ports, expansion of Lekki Deep Sea Port and development of other facilities would only deliver their full economic value, if supported by efficient road, rail, barge, inland logistics and dry-port connections.
“A port cannot be globally competitive, if its hinterland is not competitive,” she said.
On port charges, Usman called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s tariff structure, stressing that attention should shift from individual charges to the total cost of moving cargo through the entire Nigerian supply chain.
She noted that reports of the cost of clearing a standard 20-foot container through Apapa reaching about N14 million to N15 million, compared with lower costs at some competing West African ports, should concern policymakers.
She explained that the total cost comprises statutory port tariffs, terminal handling charges, shipping-line charges, detention, demurrage, haulage, documentation and clearing costs, adding that eliminating duplicated and obsolete charges and regulatory interventions would significantly reduce the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports.
Usman advocated a predictable, transparent and performance-based tariff regime, with tariff adjustments supported by published methodologies, international benchmarks and measurable improvements in service delivery.
She also proposed the publication of an annual Port Economic Performance Report covering vessel and truck turnaround times, cargo-handling productivity, equipment availability, customs clearance, total logistics costs, digital transactions, export connectivity, customer satisfaction and dispute-resolution timelines.
On his part, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, said the Federal Government was implementing a comprehensive modernisation programme aimed at transforming Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and positioning the country as a major maritime hub for West and Central Africa.
Oyetola, who was represented at the event by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Planning, NPA, Mr Seyi Iyawe, said the government had secured approval for the comprehensive modernisation of Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri ports.
He said the programme would involve rebuilding key infrastructure, deepening channels to accommodate larger vessels, replacing obsolete equipment and overhauling port operations.
“Our objective is to create ports that can move cargo, accommodate larger vessels, reduce turnaround time and lower the cost per unit of cargo handled,” he said.
The Minister said Nigeria could no longer depend exclusively on its traditional ports, highlighting the government’s plans to expand deep-sea port capacity through projects including the Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers State, and the recently signed Badagry Deep Sea Port project.
According to him, the development of deep-sea ports would decentralise cargo movement, reduce pressure on existing facilities, open new economic corridors and stimulate investment, employment and industrial development.
Oyetola also highlighted investments in modern marine craft through the NPA, including heavy-duty tugboats, buoy tenders, high-speed pilot cutters and specialised dredgers, saying the assets would improve pilotage, vessel movement, maintenance dredging and overall operational efficiency.
He said Nigeria’s improved maritime security record was another major component of the country’s competitiveness strategy.
According to him, Nigeria had maintained a zero-piracy record in its territorial waters for four consecutive years, while improved security and compliance measures had enhanced confidence among international shipping operators.
The Minister also said the United States Coast Guard had lifted restrictions previously imposed on vessels arriving at Nigerian ports, describing the development as a vote of confidence in the country’s security and compliance efforts.
Oyetola, however, stressed that infrastructure alone could not make Nigerian ports competitive without fairness, transparency, accountability and predictable tariffs.
He said the establishment of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency would provide an independent economic regulator for the port logistics sector, with responsibility for harmonising service standards, monitoring tariffs, promoting fair competition, addressing anti-competitive practices and protecting port users from arbitrary and exploitative charges.
He added that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council had been mandated to transition to the new regulatory framework, describing the reform as fundamental to improving investor confidence.
The Minister said the government’s philosophy was to move the maritime sector from a culture of collecting charges to a culture of creating value.
Also speaking, Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Capt. Dr Warredi Enisuoh, warned that efforts to modernise Nigerian ports would have limited impact unless equal attention was paid to what happens outside the port gates.
Enisuoh said port modernisation must incorporate cargo evacuation, road infrastructure, rail, inland waterways, truck management and the reduction of multiple checkpoints and collection points.
“You cannot modernise a port without modernising its exit point,” he said.
He noted that automating operations inside Apapa or Tin Can Island would not eliminate congestion if cargo evacuation remained inefficient, stressing that Nigeria needed an integrated logistics system connecting ports to roads, rail, inland waterways, logistics hubs and the hinterland.
Enisuoh also pointed to the growth in vessel sizes globally, noting that some modern container ships now have capacities of more than 20,000 TEUs, making deeper and more efficient ports increasingly important to Nigeria’s competitiveness.
He advocated the deepening and expansion of Nigerian ports to accommodate larger vessels and compete effectively with neighbouring maritime gateways.
The Tantita executive also raised concerns over the multiplicity of agencies and processes confronting shipping agents and port users, saying operators often have to interface separately with the NPA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
He called for a genuine one-stop-shop system through which port users could complete multiple regulatory and payment requirements on an integrated platform.
Enisuoh further urged the Federal Government to look beyond Lagos and develop Nigeria’s numerous ports as part of a coordinated national maritime strategy.
He said viable alternatives in other parts of the coastline would help distribute cargo, reduce pressure on Lagos and create more efficient trade corridors into the hinterland.
“If city infrastructure is poor, spend all the millions of dollars you want to maintain the port. It’s not going to work. You will still get congestion,” he said.
He therefore called for a holistic national plan integrating ports, roads, bridges, rail, inland waterways, logistics hubs and cargo evacuation systems.
Meanwhile, President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Mrs Jean-Chiazo Anishere, said a vibrant maritime sector required sound policies, effective regulation and a knowledgeable and independent maritime press capable of informing the public and holding stakeholders accountable.
Anishere commended MARAN for promoting informed reportage and public awareness of Nigeria’s maritime industry, saying the association’s professional and responsible reporting had contributed to positive discourse and development in the maritime sector.
She described the annual lecture as an important platform for stakeholders to interrogate contemporary issues, exchange ideas and develop practical solutions to challenges confronting the industry.
