By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Federal Government has approved the modernisation of four major ports in the South, expanding its ongoing port upgrade programme beyond Lagos.
The ports are Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar, which the government says will provide additional gateways for international trade and help reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the approval in a statement on Sunday, describing it as part of efforts to develop a more balanced and competitive national port system.
The approval comes after the Federal Government earlier approved the modernisation and upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.
Oyetola said upgrading the four ports would improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times and strengthen regional connectivity, making the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.
He said the ports have strategic roles in Nigeria’s trade, industrial and regional development and would be equipped to meet the demands of a growing economy.
The minister said the government was also pursuing the development of new deep seaports, including the Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny deep seaports.
According to him, combining the modernisation of existing ports with the development of new deep seaports would expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity and create stronger economic corridors across the country.
Oyetola said the government’s broader objective was to develop an integrated maritime and logistics system linking.
