The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of four major ports outside Lagos as part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity and create a more balanced national port system.
The ports covered by the approval are Onne Port and Rivers Port in Rivers State, Delta Port in Delta State and Calabar Port in Cross River State.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the approval on September 27, 2026, saying the programme would complement the earlier approval for the modernisation and upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.
According to the minister, extending the modernisation programme beyond Lagos is intended to create additional gateways for international trade and reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos.
Oyetola said the upgrades are expected to improve cargo handling, reduce the amount of time vessels spend at the ports and strengthen connections between different regions of the country.
He also said better port infrastructure could make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective for Nigerian businesses.
The Federal Government’s decision comes amid longstanding calls for greater development of ports outside Lagos. Delta State, for example, has repeatedly called for the revival of ports including Warri, Koko, Sapele and Burutu, while Calabar Port has faced longstanding challenges relating to its access channel and dredging.
The government is also pursuing plans for new deep seaports across different parts of Nigeria. These include the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom, Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River, Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa, Gateway Deep Seaport in Ogun, Ondo Deep Seaport in Ondo and Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.
Oyetola said the combination of upgrading existing ports and developing new deep seaports would increase Nigeria’s ability to handle growing trade volumes and create stronger economic corridors.
The minister further outlined a broader plan for an integrated maritime and logistics system in which ports would be connected effectively to roads, railways, inland waterways and other transport infrastructure.
Such connectivity is expected to support the movement of cargo from ports to businesses and markets across the country.
The Federal Government has also said that the maritime infrastructure programme is intended to support trade, attract investment and create employment opportunities.
However, the government has not publicly disclosed the total value, detailed funding structure or completion timeline for the newly approved upgrades to the four ports.
The latest approval therefore represents an expansion of Nigeria’s port modernisation programme beyond Lagos, with implementation expected to determine how quickly the affected ports can increase their capacity and contribute more significantly to national and regional trade.
