Federal government approves upgrades for four South-South ports

The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of four ports in Nigeria’s South-South region. Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola said the approved facilities were Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports. He announced the decision in a post on his official X account on Sunday.

The approval follows an earlier government decision to modernise Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos. Oyetola said extending the programme to the South-South would provide additional gateways for international trade and create a more balanced national port system. He said the upgrades would improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times and strengthen regional connectivity.

The minister described the ports as important to Nigeria’s trade, industrial development and regional economy. Oyetola said the government was pursuing a dual approach of upgrading existing facilities and supporting new deep-seaport projects. He identified approved developments involving the Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny deep seaports.

The minister said the wider plan would expand maritime capacity, create economic corridors and support Nigeria’s ambition to become a maritime and logistics hub in Africa. He added that the ministry would work with state governments, terminal operators, investors and shipping companies. The supplied material gives no project cost or completion date for the four approved upgrades.