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By Godswill Michael
The Federal Government plans to modernise ports outside Lagos to reduce pressure on the state’s maritime facilities, improve trade efficiency and stimulate economic activities across the country, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said.
Oyetola gave the assurance on Friday at the 2026 World Maritime Day celebration held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing a more balanced network of maritime gateways.
The minister identified the ports of Onne, Warri and Calabar as key facilities targeted for modernisation, alongside ongoing efforts to improve operations at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to developing six proposed deep seaports at Agge, Bakassi, Bonny, Gateway, Ibom and Ondo.
“This is a deliberate effort to expand capacity, improve efficiency and build a more balanced national network of maritime gateways,” Oyetola said.
He said that the government’s maritime development strategy would connect seaports, inland dry ports and production centres through an integrated network of roads, railways and inland waterways.
According to him, the approach would bring cargo closer to producers and consumers, reduce transportation costs and strengthen the country’s export capacity.
“By linking our seaports to Inland Dry Ports and production centres through an integrated multimodal network of road, rail and inland waterways, we are bringing cargo closer to producers and consumers, reducing haulage costs, easing pressure on Lagos, strengthening exports and stimulating industrial and logistics clusters across the Federation,” he said.
Oyetola said the government’s port development agenda extended beyond coastal communities, adding that inland ports and waterways, including Onitsha and Baro, were essential to connecting businesses and production centres to domestic and international markets.
He said the ministry was working with relevant government agencies and investors to ensure that its port development plans translated into functional infrastructure, efficient cargo handling, navigable channels and reliable transport connections.
The minister also stated that the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen economic regulation, promote fair competition and improve service delivery across the port system.
He said sustained investment in port infrastructure and improved connectivity would reduce logistics costs, attract investments, support exports and create jobs across the country.
The modernisation plan forms part of the Federal Government’s broader blue economy agenda, which seeks to improve the efficiency of maritime infrastructure and expand the sector’s contribution to national economic development.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, called for an end to attacks on seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz in his goodwill message at the event.