Nigeria, the top economy in West Africa, has seven main ports
1. Lagos Port Complex: Lagos State; 94% of exports and 76% of imports according to NBS Q4 2023
2. Tin Can Island Port Complex: Lagos State; 3% of exports and 8% of imports
3. Lekki Deep Sea Port: Lagos State
4. Onne Port Complex: Located in Rivers State
5. Rivers Port Complex: Located in Rivers State
6. Calabar Port Complex: Cross River State
7. Delta Port Complex: Located in Warri, Delta State
Nigeria’s most important port is the Lagos Port Complex. That single port in Apapa is the key export and import point for over 200m Nigerians.
In 2024, it was reported that the “Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had allocated more than $200 million over the past decade to dredging operations across critical channels leading to key ports in Lagos, including the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Tin-Can Island Port, Roro Port, and container terminal.”
See Also: NPA Boss Vows To Make Seaports World Class
Have other ports in Nigeria been dredged?
Calabar Port has not been dredged in recent memory, even though contracts have been issued in the past.
Warri Port has been dredged, but I share below a quote on the Warri Port by Dr Austin Egbegbadia of the Shippers Association Delta State from 2022
“Up till now, as we speak, I cannot clear my cargoes at Warri Port because my consignment comes in containers, and there are no vessels or vessels coming with containerised goods into Warri Port. Containers are carried normally on what we call liner vessels, and there are no liner vessels plying the Warri Port as we speak.”
Let’s assume the ports in Lagos are all world-class. What about the roads to take the cargo out of Lagos?
The Lagos to Ibadan expressway has been under construction since 1999, but that’s up to Ibadan. What about across Nigeria?
This week, the FEC approved a further $45m for the feasibility study and engineering design of a rail route linking four seaports in Nigeria’s western region: Deep Sea Port, Tin Can Seaport, Apapa Seaport, and Lekki Seaport, to the hinterlands.
Are there planned investments to link the narrow gauge railways in the Southeast to the Standard Gauge line in Warri and perhaps to the Abuja Standard gauge line that goes to Kaduna?
Nigeria has created a logistical and infrastructure monopoly by design and appropriation, with Federal investment in strategic logistics concentrated in only one region. This has implications for the economy and security. If a single port is responsible for 94% of sea exports, then its imperative diversification must occur.
Opening up ports and linking those ports via rail is a good use of public funds that will positively affect the economy.
Failing to diversify these strategic infrastructure investments will increase the number of complaints about overcrowding in Lagos State.
Culled from Kalu Ajah’s X handle: @FinPlanKaluAja1