Nigeria's Government Greenlights Port Upgrades for Trade

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the full modernization and upgrade of four major ports: Onne, Rivers, Delta, and Calabar. This decision was announced by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on September 27, 2026.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria's maritime sector and follows an earlier decision to modernize the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos. The government aims to alleviate the heavy concentration of cargo traffic in Lagos by enhancing infrastructure at these ports, which will lead to reduced vessel turnaround times and improved cargo handling.

Additionally, the government has approved the construction of six new deep seaports, including the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State and the Bakassi Deep Seaport. Oyetola emphasized that upgrading existing ports and building new ones will significantly increase Nigeria's capacity to handle trade volumes.

The Ministry will collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure successful project implementation.