By Ebiere Kekeboro
The Chairman of the House Committee on Ports and Harbour, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, has expressed concern over the rating of Nigeria’s sea ports as the lowest in terms of capacity in the West African region.
This reaction follows a briefing by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, during a meeting with members of the committee at the National Assembly Complex.
, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, in his response, lamented the dilapidated state of Nigeria’s ports, which according to him “prevents modern ships from berthing at the nation’s sea ports across the country”.
He noted that despite Nigeria being the destination for a significant volume of shipments coming to West Africa, the country’s ports are unable to handle larger vessels due to aging infrastructure.
The NPA Chief Executive highlighted that “the ports in Lagos can only accommodate small ships with a capacity of around 4,000 containers because of the aging infrastructures”. He disclosed that “larger ships carrying up to 25,000 containers cannot berth in Nigerian ports due to inadequate infrastructure”. In contrast, countries like Côte d’Ivoire, with a much smaller population, boast more advanced ports.
Dr. Dantsoho further assured the committee that plans are underway to rehabilitate the harbors, which were built between 70 and 100 years ago. When asked about the commencement of the upgrading of the Eastern ports, the Managing Director stated that the procurement process would begin soon.
Dr Dantsoho Further disclosed that Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set a visionary goal to generate ₦1.279 trillion in revenue for the 2025 fiscal year, a significant 40% increase from the ₦894 billion recorded in 2024.
Dr. Dantsoho highlighted the strategic role of the NPA in national development, emphasizing two core functions: trade facilitation and the provision of marine and port-side services. He noted that the multiplier effects of efficient port operations cut across all sectors, and that’s PPP. inefficiencies at Nigerian ports risk diverting cargo traffic to competing West African ports.
To remain competitive, the NPA is investing heavily in infrastructure, advanced equipment, digital technology, and human capacity. These investments, Dr. Dantsoho said, are crucial for reducing ship turnaround time, boosting cargo volumes, and ensuring Nigeria becomes the maritime hub for West Africa.
The Hon. Nnaji, assured Dr. Dantsoho of the parliament’s support in upgrading the nation’s sea ports within available resources to mitigate capital flight resulting from low capacity.