Nigeria to modernize Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports to ease Lagos congestion

The Nigerian Federal Government is prioritizing the modernization of the Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports to alleviate heavy congestion at Lagos-based facilities. According to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over 70 percent of cargo destined for various regions currently passes through Lagos ports.

As part of President Bola Tinubu’s Blue Economy agenda, the government aims to develop an integrated multimodal network. This plan involves connecting seaports, inland dry ports, and production centers through roads, railways, and inland waterways. The initiative seeks to reduce cargo transportation costs, strengthen non-oil exports, and stimulate industrial and logistics clusters across the country.

In addition to the modernization of existing ports like Apapa and Tin Can Island, the government is pursuing deep seaport developments at Agge, Bakassi, Bonny, Gateway, Ibom, and Ondo. The strategy also highlights the importance of inland waterways and river ports, such as those in Onitsha and Baro, to link businesses to national and international markets.