The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has identified six major ports for infrastructure upgrades under its $1bn modernisation programme, inviting local and international investors to partner with the government in transforming the country's maritime sector.
The ports include Apapa, Tin Can Island, Calabar, Rivers, Delta and Onne, where the authority said private investment was needed to rehabilitate and expand facilities, improve cargo handling and boost operational efficiency.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the 40th Lagos International Trade Fair, where he outlined investment opportunities under the modernisation programme.
Start tomorrow informed
Save your place for the morning brief. We’ll start emailing when delivery goes live.
Free. Confirm by email. Unsubscribe anytime.
He said the initiative covered port infrastructure, digital technology, multimodal logistics and environmentally sustainable operations.
Dantsoho identified smart port solutions such as automated gates, Port Community Systems, Vessel Traffic Management Systems and artificial intelligence-driven logistics as areas where investors could participate.
He also listed dry ports, inland container depots, rail connections to ports and cold-chain facilities as investment opportunities.
On environmental sustainability, the NPA chief said the programme included renewable energy, eco-friendly equipment and sustainable waste management in line with global decarbonisation goals.
He added that the authority had introduced Export Processing Terminals and dedicated cargo transit corridors to reduce delays and improve the movement of export goods.
According to him, the terminals provide one-stop services for processing, documentation and pre-gating of export cargo, while the transit corridors facilitate movement to ports through collaboration with security and traffic management agencies.
He said the measures would strengthen non-oil exports, improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products and help small and medium-scale enterprises access international markets.
Dantsoho described non-oil exports as a national priority, arguing that Nigeria needed to move beyond being predominantly a consuming nation to becoming a manufacturing and exporting powerhouse.
He assured prospective investors that the NPA was committed to providing a transparent and business-friendly environment, backed by regulatory stability and attractive returns.
The managing director said the modernisation programme, supported by the Federal Government and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, would improve port efficiency and strengthen Nigeria's position in global trade.
He urged investors and international trade delegations attending the Lagos fair to explore opportunities in the country's Blue Economy.
Discussion0