Business
FG Commits To Building Modern Maritime Sector
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is committed to building a modern, safe, and globally competitive maritime sector.
Oyetola also announced plans to replicate the success of the Lekki Deep Seaport across Nigeria’s maritime sector, which he described as a model for transformative growth and development.
A statement on Tuesday by his media aide, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, said the Minister stated this during a breakfast meeting organised by the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, themed, “Unlocking Opportunities: The Lekki Deep Seaport Playbook for Trade and Shipping in Nigeria”.
In the statement, Oyetola explained that a central component of the current administration’s strategy is the nationwide application of the public-private partnership model and logistical efficiency demonstrated at the Lekki Deep Seaport.
According to him, the maritime industry stands at the heart of the nation’s economic aspirations, not merely as a conduit for trade, but as a catalyst for industrial growth, job creation, and regional integration.
“Our vision is clear: to build a modern, safe, efficient, and globally competitive maritime sector that fully unlocks Nigeria’s economic potential. Achieving this vision would require more than sound policies; it demands sustained investment in infrastructure, targeted capacity building, accelerated digital transformation, and strong, enduring partnerships with the private sector”, Oyetola said.
He highlighted Lekki Deep Seaport’s capacity to handle 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units and accommodate large vessels, noting that it has already generated thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
He also commended the completion of critical access roads, stating that for the first time in decades, they have freed major Nigerian ports from logistical bottlenecks.
“Cargo now moves out faster, investors move in with confidence, and trade flows without unnecessary delay”, the Minister stated.
The former Governor added that the port, which currently operates at only 20 per cent capacity, presents vast, untapped opportunities for investors.
Oyetola emphasised that the Lekki playbook is founded on five key pillars, namely, a strategic location, a robust public–private partnership framework, integrated transport links by road, rail, and inland waterways, supportive policies, and technology-driven operations.
To replicate this model nationwide, Oyetola confirmed that the Ministry is actively modernising Apapa and Tincan Island Ports and also upgrading the Eastern Ports in Onne, Calabar, and Rivers.
“Under the leadership of President Tinubu, this administration is committed to taking the lessons of Lekki and applying them nationwide to transform our entire port system into a network of modern, efficient, and competitive gateways.
“To this end, we are modernising the Western Ports in Apapa, upgrading the Eastern Ports in Onne, Calabar, and Rivers to stimulate balanced regional growth, and finalising the Port Community System, integrated with the National Single Window to create a paperless, transparent, and secure digital environment for all maritime stakeholders”, he stressed.
He emphasised that a strong national shipping fleet is essential to building local capacity and asserting Nigeria’s presence on global trade lanes, with the ultimate goal of establishing a National Flag Carrier.
The Minister concluded by stressing that the Lekki Deep Seaport serves as clear evidence of what can be achieved when policy, vision, investment, and execution align.
He urged all stakeholders to replicate, refine, and scale the model for the prosperity of Nigeria and the African continent.