The Presidency has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s approved plan to modernise and upgrade the Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar Ports, calling the initiative a strategic step for the nation’s economy.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Monday, noting that infrastructure renewal and economic diversification remain central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Onanuga, modern and efficient ports are essential to this vision, as they facilitate trade, support industry, attract investment and create jobs.
He added that the planned upgrades would enhance cargo handling, cut vessel turnaround times, strengthen regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.
He noted that the initiative forms part of a wider expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, which includes federal approvals for new deep seaports at Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny.
The government’s approach, he said, is comprehensive, combining the modernisation of existing ports with the development of new deep seaports, an effort expected to expand the country’s maritime capacity and position Nigeria as a major logistics hub in Africa.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, had earlier announced the approval in a statement issued on Sunday, describing it as a step that builds on the earlier modernisation of the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos.
Oyetola explained that extending the programme beyond Lagos would help ease cargo congestion in the state while creating additional efficient gateways for international trade.
He added that the ports have strategic roles in Nigeria’s trade and industrial development, stressing the government’s determination to position them to meet the needs of a growing economy.
He further stated that the Ministry’s vision is an integrated maritime and logistics system linking ports, roads, rail and inland waterways to ensure seamless cargo movement, adding that the Ministry would continue working with state governments, terminal operators, investors and shipping companies to translate the projects into tangible outcomes.
