The Federal Government has approved the full modernization and upgrade of the Onne port, Delta, and Calabar seaports.
According to a statement shared on X by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the approval expands upon the existing modernization initiative for the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos State.
He noted that the initiative is part of broader efforts to establish an efficient, geographically balanced, and globally competitive national port system.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, infrastructure renewal and economic diversification remain central to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the minister said.
“Extending the modernisation programme beyond Lagos will complement ongoing investments in Apapa and Tin Can Island, while helping to reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos and creating additional efficient gateways for international trade.”
Upgraded ports to improve cargo handling
He said improved infrastructure and greater operational efficiency at the ports of Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar would enhance cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times, strengthen regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more reliable and cost-effective.
“These ports have strategic roles to play in our trade, industrial and regional development, and we are determined to equip them to meet the demands of a growing economy,” Oyetola added.
According to the minister, the approval forms part of a broader expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure. The expansion also includes Federal Government approvals for the construction of deep seaports at Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny.
Oyetola said the ministry would continue to work closely with state governments, port operators, investors, shipping companies and other stakeholders to ensure that its initiatives deliver measurable improvements across Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
Backstory…
The Federal Government’s decision to upgrade the Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports follows months of discussion about expanding Nigeria’s port modernisation programme beyond Lagos.
In April 2026, Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola specifically pushed back against concerns that the government was concentrating its attention on Lagos, saying the modernisation programme would also cover Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar and that procurement processes were already underway for the eastern ports.
The clarification followed the Federal Government’s move to modernise the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, which raised concerns about whether authorities were neglecting the eastern ports.
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