The Federal Government has approved certification and compliance procedures for five proposed deep seaport projects as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and reclaim cargo traffic currently diverted to neighbouring countries.
The approved projects include the Badagry Deep Sea Port in Lagos State, Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ondo State, Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom State, Bakassi Deep Sea Port in Cross River State, and Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers State.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed the development during the 2026 graduation ceremony of newly trained personnel under the Deep Blue Project Task Group in Rivers State. According to the minister, the approvals demonstrate the government’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leading maritime and logistics hub in Africa.
The Federal Government said the initiative is aimed at recovering more than 70% of Nigerian-bound cargo currently handled through ports in neighbouring African countries due to congestion, infrastructure gaps, and operational inefficiencies within some Nigerian ports.
Officials noted that the certification and compliance approvals are expected to accelerate investor engagement and pave the way for the development of modern deep seaport infrastructure capable of accommodating larger cargo vessels and improving international trade capacity.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, explained that although discussions with investors are still ongoing because of the large financial commitments required, the government has already completed the major regulatory and administrative groundwork needed for implementation.
Industry stakeholders say the planned ports could significantly improve cargo handling efficiency, reduce congestion at existing seaports, expand export capacity, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The projects are also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the maritime, logistics, transport, and industrial sectors while opening new economic corridors in coastal states earmarked for the developments.
According to maritime officials, global shipping trends are increasingly shifting toward larger vessels that require deeper draught channels, making investment in deep seaport infrastructure critical for Nigeria’s long-term trade expansion and regional logistics ambitions.
The development forms part of broader reforms within Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector, including port modernisation, digital cargo clearance systems, and expanded maritime security initiatives under the Deep Blue Project.
