Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola CON.

Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola CON, has said there is urgent need to address the imbalance in terms of cargo and vesselcalls between the country’s seaports in Lagos and those in the eastern corridor, insisting that such need is a national economic imperative rather than just a regional demand. He therefore assured that the Federal Government was putting in place long term measures to reverse the trend in the overall national economic development.

Speaking at the 2026 Annual General Meeting/Conference of the League of Maritime Editors LOME, with the theme: ‘Lagos/Eastern Ports: How to reverse existing imbalance in disproportionate cargo vessel calls’, held at the BWC Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Thursday, the Minister, who delivered the Keynote, observed that the imbalance between Lagos and the Eastern ports is the product of decades of infrastructure, investment, operational and historical factors. He however noted that it can be corrected, but not overnight, assuring that it must be corrected.

Represented by the Director, Press in the Ministry, Mrs. Anastasia Ogbonna, the Minister disclosed that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Government has adopted a deliberate and strategic approach to transforming Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and positioning the sector as a stronger driver of economic growth.

He also noted the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy along with its Agencies is committed to developing a balanced, efficient and interconnected national port system in which Lagos and the Eastern ports complement one another rather than compete for attention and investment.

“Let me state this clearly: the modernisation and rehabilitation of the Eastern ports are integral parts of the Federal Government’s port development strategy. Our objective is to address the infrastructure and operational constraints that have historically limited the competitiveness of these ports. This includes improving channel depths and navigability, rehabilitating critical port infrastructure, enhancing navigational safety, upgrading cargo-handling facilities, strengthening security and improving the overall operating environment for shipping lines, terminal operators and cargo owners.

“The reconstruction of the breakwaters and channel-management interventions, including works along the Escravos Channel for instance, together with new investments by private terminal operators, are important elements of this broader effort. Government is also encouraging greater private-sector participation in port development because we recognise that the scale of investment required cannot, and should not, be borne by Government alone. Our objective in this regard is straightforward: to make every viable Nigerian port capable of competing for cargo on the basis of efficiency, reliability, cost and quality of service.

“I am aware that some stakeholders have asked why major physical modernisation activities are currently receiving particular attention at the Western ports, especially Apapa and Tin Can Island. This is a fair question, and it deserves a clear answer. The approach is not based on preferential treatment for Lagos. It is based on operational urgency, economic necessity, project readiness and responsible sequencing”, the Minister said.

Speaking on the scale of existing pressure on the seaports in Lagos, especially Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, Oyetola noted that Lagos remains the country’s principal maritime gateway and currently handles the largest concentration of import and export cargo, arguing that inefficiencies at the Lagos ports would have a disproportionate impact on the national economy.

He further admitted that congestion, delays and infrastructure constraints at these ports translate directly into increased logistics costs for businesses and consumers across the country, adding that addressing the most heavily utilised and most severely pressured infrastructure therefore offers the quickest opportunity to reduce systemic inefficiencies and deliver immediate economic benefits to the nation.

On the need to protect the continuity of national trade, the Minister said: “Port modernisation cannot be undertaken without taking into account the need to keep trade moving. Attempting to carry out major reconstruction simultaneously across the principal Western and Eastern gateways, without adequate alternative capacity, could create significant disruption to the movement of cargo and expose the national supply chain to unnecessary risks.

A carefully sequenced programme allows us to improve capacity while ensuring that Nigeria’s international trade continues to flow. At the same time, strengthening the Eastern ports will provide the additional capacity required to progressively diversify cargo flows. The Lagos port modernisation programme attained financial and contractual readiness earlier, allowing implementation to commence ahead of some of the Eastern port interventions.

“This sequencing should not be interpreted as an indication that the Eastern ports are being neglected. Rather, it reflects the practical realities of project preparation, financing, procurement and implementation. The Eastern ports programme is being advanced as part of the same broader national strategy, with the objective of ensuring that the interventions are properly designed, financed and implemented for sustainable results.”

While emphasising the need to create a truly multi-port system for the country, the Minister disclosed that the long-term objective of the Government is not simply to improve the Lagos ports, rather to create a multi-port system in which cargo owners and shipping lines have viable alternatives and can choose gateways based on efficiency, cost, reliability and proximity to their markets.

“A modernised Lagos port will reduce pressure on the system. Modernised Eastern ports will provide additional capacity and alternative gateways. The two strategies are therefore complementary. We are not developing Lagos at the expense of the East. We are strengthening Lagos while building the capacity of the Eastern corridor to assume a greater and more strategic share of national maritime traffic.

“We must also recognise that redistributing cargo and vessel calls will not happen simply because infrastructure is improved. Shipping lines make commercial decisions. They consider draft, berth availability, cargo volumes, turnaround time, security, reliability, tariffs, hinterland connectivity and, importantly, the overall predictability of port operations. For this reason, the Ministry is pursuing a broader package of complementary reforms.

“We will continue to support measures that enhance security along the Eastern maritime corridor and build confidence among shipowners, operators and cargo interests. We must create conditions that make it commercially attractive for shipping lines and cargo owners to use ports outside Lagos. This will require continuous engagement with terminal operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders, cargo owners and other stakeholders to identify and remove operational barriers.

“The digital transformation of port processes remains central to our reform agenda. The National Single Window, Port Community System and related digital initiatives are intended to reduce unnecessary physical interactions, improve information sharing among agencies and operators, enhance transparency and make cargo clearance more predictable. A cargo owner should be able to determine the most efficient gateway on the basis of transparent and reliable information, rather than simply following historical patterns.

“A port is only as competitive as the logistics network that connects it to its market. Consequently, greater attention must be given to road, rail, inland waterway and barge connectivity. The development of efficient multimodal connections to the Eastern ports will be particularly important in unlocking their potential and extending their market reach beyond their immediate geographical locations. Government will continue to create an enabling environment for private investment in port infrastructure, terminal operations, logistics and related services.

“The investments already taking place in and around ports such as Onne and Port Harcourt demonstrate that private capital is willing to participate where there is a credible commercial opportunity and a supportive regulatory environment. Our responsibility as Government is to provide the policy certainty, infrastructure, security and regulatory environment that will enable such investments to flourish.

“Let me also emphasise the important role of the maritime media in this transformation. The media is not merely a reporter of what happens in the sector. You are an important stakeholder in shaping public understanding, attracting investment and promoting accountability. As maritime editors and journalists, you have the capacity to interrogate policies, highlight bottlenecks, draw attention to areas requiring urgent intervention and, where progress is being made, communicate that progress to the public. I therefore encourage the League of Maritime Editors to continue providing a platform for objective and evidence-based discussion of the challenges confronting the sector.

“Government must be prepared to listen to constructive criticism, just as the media must be prepared to recognise and communicate progress where progress is being made. That partnership is essential if we are to build a maritime sector that Nigerians can be proud of. Our approach is therefore one of deliberate policy, strategic sequencing, infrastructure investment, private-sector participation, digital transformation, improved security and stronger multimodal connectivity. In this regard, the modernisation of the Eastern ports is not being conceived as an isolated regional intervention. It is part of a broader national strategy to develop a resilient, competitive and interconnected port system.

“The commencement and prioritisation of interventions at the Western ports should therefore not be interpreted as a choice between Lagos and the East. It is about building a stronger Nigerian maritime system, one in which Lagos continues to serve as a major maritime gateway, while Onne, Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar and other viable ports are developed to handle a greater and more diversified share of national and regional trade.

“Our vision is a Nigeria where cargo moves through the gateway that provides the greatest efficiency, reliability and value, irrespective of its geographical location. That is the port system we are working to build. And when we achieve it, the benefits will go far beyond the ports themselves. We will reduce logistics costs, strengthen regional economies, attract investment, create jobs, improve trade competitiveness and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime and logistics hub in West Africa”, the Minister assured.

Meanwhile, President of the LOME, Mrs. Remi Itie, who delivered a welcome speech, noted that the role of the media is to set agenda, which also informed the theme of the conference and the need to continuously inform the public.

She noted that the objective conference was geared solely towards nation-building, adding that the discussions were not aimed at bringing any one organisation down, rather to identify gaps, spotlight the opportunities and share the lessons learned.  

She further observed that time has come for the citizens of the country to focus on how to harness the potential inherent in the marine and blue economy sector. 

She cited the Ethiope River in Delta State, which stretches from Abraka to Eku down to Sapele and beyond with vast tourism and agro-fishery potential. She also cited Bayelsa State, and so many other littoral states, which have similar vast tourism potential.

She urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to focus on strategies that can help reverse the existing imbalance in cargo and vessel calls.

She, on behalf of the League of Maritime Editors thanked the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC, for sponsoring the programme.

A highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the new Executive Council of the association, led by Mr. Felix Kumuyi as President and Mr. Francis Ugwoke as Vice President, among others.

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