Currently, the federal government is modernising and rehabilitating the nation’s seaports to enhance competitiveness and achieve hub status. Abiola Seun Writes.
Most Nigerian seaports are old, archaic and inefficient, and that has made the nation’s seaports uncompetitive among its peers in West and Central Africa sub region. Some of the ports have their quay walls collapsed or weakened and other important infrastructure collapsed. For instance, some terminals at the Tin-can Island ports in Lagos have lost their berths as the quay walls have collapsed.
Also, ports and terminals at the Eastern ports experienced some sort of collapsed infrastructure.
However, the federal government is changing the narratives as they supported the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to embark on the rehabilitation and modernisation of the nation’s seaports to achieve competitiveness among its peers in West and Central Africa. By modernising the ports, Nigeria intends to wrest cargoes from neighbouring ports, and conclusively make Nigerian seaports a hub within the sub-region.
To this end, the Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has under-pinned a broader vision of achieving national competitiveness through port rehabilitation and modernization, guided by the Federal Government’s overarching blueprint, the NPA under his charge has embarked on infrastructure renewal that prioritizes logistics efficiency, channel deepening, and the accommodation of larger vessels—thereby positioning Nigeria as a formidable maritime hub on the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, the Authority is taking steps to reposition the Nigerian ports to improve its competitive strategy to stay ahead of its rival ports. He said that it is envisaged, that intra-African trade will significantly increase with the collapse of trade barriers across Africa, saying, “It is therefore imperative that the repositioning of Nigerian ports be competitive, in order not to lose its gateway traffic to the ports. “Our vision is to be the Maritime Logistics Hub for sustainable port services in Africa,” he affirmed.
“In the quest for our nation to optimize the benefits accruable from AFCFTA, there is no gainsaying that port plays a pivotal role as a nodal point in international logistics. Given the fact that port cost is a significant component of freight cost, which ultimately affects the prices of goods in the market, this speaks to the imperativeness for our ports to be competitive and efficient. “This also requires the strategic collaboration of every player in the port system for this to be actualized,” Dantsoho said.
He explained that port competitiveness is driven mainly by institution, infrastructure and macroeconomics saying, strong institutions; provide the regulatory and governance framework necessary for stable and predictable business operations; while infrastructure is a cornerstone of port competitiveness, influencing both operational efficiency and long-term strategic viability.
“The quality of infrastructure affects transport costs, trade efficiency, and overall competitiveness. Investments in inland terminals, logistic zones, and rail networks can expand a port’s influence beyond its traditional hinterland, and bring about efficiency that makes the port competitive,” he noted.
Also, a Maritime expert, Anthony Adah, said the impact of Dr. Dantsoho’s reforms has been very profound, resulting in tangible benefits for the NPA and the Nigerian economy. According to Adah, the comprehensive modernization of port operations has yielded a substantial surge in for the NPA, primarily attributable to the successful elimination of inefficiencies and revenue leakages which has been crippling the agency for years.
He argued that the MD’s transformative initiatives have streamlined operational processes, enhanced accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline, ultimately resulting in a remarkable improvement in revenue generation. “While the reduction in turnaround times and improved efficiency have made Nigerian ports more attractive to traders, boosting the volume of imports and exports, the upgrading of Nigeria ports equipment has set our ports on a global level to compete with their counterparts in every other part of the world, thereby attracting more international shipping lines and investors. “His reforms in port rehabilitation, modernization, infrastructure development, digitization, and stakeholder engagement have set the stage for sustainable growth and development in Nigeria’s maritime sector,” Adah stated
Aside from port modernisation, the Authority has equally simplified export procedures through the creation of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs). The Authority, through the leadership of Dr Dantsoho, has streamlined what was once an arduous and opaque process; the NPA is unlocking new frontiers in non-oil export promotion—a vital lever in Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification and a favourable balance of trade.
Perhaps the most staggering testament is the transformation of the NPA’s revenue profile. In a single fiscal year, the Authority’s earnings surged from ₦424.2 billion in 2023 to an astounding ₦893.6 billion in 2024—a 111% leap that has not only outpaced projections but also revitalized national conversations around the economic potential of Nigerian ports.
Such an exponential increase is no accident. It is the product of a deliberate strategy anchored in digital transformation, strategic investments, and fiscal transparency. Under Dantsoho’s stewardship, the NPA has aggressively pursued the digitalization of port operations and the introduction of a robust Port Community System (PCS)—a twinning initiative that is rapidly closing the leakages through which corruption once seeped and productivity once waned.
Beyond the balance sheets, Dantsoho’s legacy is being etched into the very fabric of NPA’s institutional culture. His tenure has catalysed a revolution in employee welfare and industrial relations, breaking through bureaucratic inertia to address long-standing grievances. He facilitated a decisive intervention into the chronic issue of employee stagnation. The greenlight for long-delayed promotion examinations has rejuvenated morale within the ranks, earning commendations from labour unions, including the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSACGOC).
In a letter that resonates with genuine gratitude, SSACGOC President, Comrade Akinola Bodunde hailed the increase in productivity bonuses, distribution of end-of-year welfare items, and a timely review of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service—a document now sensitively attuned to Nigeria’s inflationary realities. He, ever the statesman, attributed these successes to collective synergy—especially praising the leaderships of both SSACGOC and MWUN for their unwavering dedication to industrial harmony. As the NPA sails into deeper waters, guided by the steady hands of the present management of the organisation who does it with newfound purpose and poise. His leadership is not just a chapter in Nigeria’s maritime history—it is a turning point. From regional prominence and revenue windfalls to technological modernization and humane governance,