In a bold move to bolster trade competitiveness and reclaim cargo traffic from neighboring countries, the Nigerian Ports Authority , NPA, unveiled an ambitious $1.1 billion port rehabilitation project to address the aging Tincan Island Port, Apapa Port and others.
Mohammed Bello Koko, the Managing Director of NPA announced this initiative at the ongoing 43rd Port Management Association of West and Central Africa ,PMAWCA, conference in Lagos.
Koko also revealed the development of a comprehensive 25-year port masterplan designed to serve as a unified national roadmap for marine and logistics development, involving all stakeholders.
The port rehabilitation project will address the aging infrastructure of the Tincan Island Port, Apapa Port, and other ports across Nigeria.
This extensive overhaul will commence with the TinCan and Apapa ports in Lagos. The primary objective is to modernize the physical infrastructure of these ports, enabling them to accommodate vessels of all sizes and achieve draft depths of up to 14 meters.
This enhancement aims to make Nigerian ports more competitive on a global scale.
The NPA is actively working with the private sector to establish new seaports, with the Lekki Deep Seaport already operational and the Badagry Deep Seaport poised to begin construction soon through an agreement with a Middle Eastern party.
This effort demonstrates NPA’s commitment to creating a seamless multimodal transportation system connecting all ports. The 25-year port masterplan will guide the location, sizes, and activities of ports, terminals, and jetties in the country, unifying stakeholders for marine and logistics development.
To address the inefficiencies of road-dependent cargo evacuation, NPA is developing alternative initiatives, such as implementing barges and expanding rail infrastructure. The railway line has reached Apapa port and will soon be extended to the TinCan port.
Additionally, a survey has been completed to deploy cargo rail and tracks to Onne port, with the project set to kick off next year.
NPA is also embracing automation to streamline operations and reduce costs, with an automated collection system already in place. Collaborating with the International Maritime Organization , IMO, NPA is introducing a state-of-the-art port community system to optimize cargo clearance processes.
Furthermore, NPA is clarifying the responsibilities of government agencies within the ports to reduce overlaps and eliminate duplication of duties.
On the security front, the deployment of the Deep Blue project, equipped with air and sea assets, has improved security in the Gulf of Guinea , GoG, and contributed significantly to reducing piracy incidents in Nigerian waters.
NPA is working with the Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, to minimize bottlenecks and reduce the cost of doing business within the ports.
President PMAWCA, Mr. Martin Boguikouma emphasized the importance of addressing regional challenges to handle the expected increase in trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area , AfCFTA.
Collaborative efforts between customs and port authorities, capacity building of officials, and reducing transport costs and investing in efficient transport infrastructure are vital to the success of this endeavor.
Gabon’s example of facilitating free trade through a Memorandum of Understanding and harmonized customs duties can serve as a model for AfCFTA.
