₦airaland Forum

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY

September 27, 2026

PRESS RELEASE

Oyetola Announces Approval for Modernisation and Upgrade of Onne, Rivers, Delta, Calabar Ports

The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced.

The approval is in addition to the earlier approval for the modernisation and upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, underscoring the Federal Government’s determination to develop a balanced, efficient and competitive national port system.

Minister Oyetola said the latest approval formed part of the administration’s broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector as a major driver of economic growth, trade, investment and employment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This approval marks another important step in our determination to transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlock the enormous economic potential of our ports,” the Minister said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it clear that infrastructure renewal and economic diversification are central to the Renewed Hope Agenda. Modern, efficient and competitive ports are critical to achieving these objectives because they facilitate trade, support industry, attract investment and create jobs.”

The Minister said extending the modernisation programme to ports outside Lagos would complement the investments in Apapa and Tin Can Island and help reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos by creating additional efficient gateways for international trade.

He noted that improved infrastructure and operational efficiency at Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports would enhance cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times, improve regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.

“These ports have strategic roles to play in our trade, industrial and regional development, and we are determined to equip them to meet the demands of a growing economy,” he said.

The latest approval is also part of a wider expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure. It comes in addition to the Federal Government's approvals for the development of new deep seaports, including the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River State, Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa State, Gateway Deep Seaport in Ogun State, Ondo Deep Seaport in Ondo State, and Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.

According to Oyetola, the combination of modernising existing ports and developing new deep seaports will significantly expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity and create stronger economic corridors across the country.

“Our approach is comprehensive. We are modernising existing ports while facilitating the development of new deep seaports. This will give Nigeria greater capacity to handle increasing volumes of trade, attract investment and position our country as a major maritime and logistics hub in Africa,” the Minister said.

He added that the Federal Government’s vision is to establish an integrated maritime and logistics system in which ports, roads, rail, inland waterways and other transport infrastructure work together to facilitate the seamless movement of cargo.

“Our ambition is to build a port system that is efficient, transparent and globally competitive. We want Nigerian businesses to spend less time and resources moving their goods, while creating an environment that encourages investment and supports job creation,” Oyetola said.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with state governments, terminal operators, investors, shipping companies and other stakeholders to ensure that the various projects translate into tangible improvements in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.


“Nigeria has the geography, market and maritime resources to become a leading maritime hub. Our responsibility is to provide the infrastructure, policies and enabling environment to turn that potential into sustainable economic value. This is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is about,” Dr Oyetola dded.

Signed:
Dr Bolaji Akinola
Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister
Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy
Bukar Dipcharima House
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

https://applesbite.com/fg-approves-upgrade-of-four-nigerian-ports/

A Bitter News for Obidients to swallow

A brilliant one coming from the administration of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)

Parachoko:
A Bitter News for Obidients to swallow

It's not a bitter news, trust me it's a welcomed development. Hope they see it through.
That's exactly what we want to happen. That's the difference between us and you people.

clarocuzioo:
It's not a bitter news, trust me it's a welcomed development. Hope they see it through.
That's exactly what we want to happen. That's the difference between us and you people.

You don't mean it?

If you're truly happy with this development, who's your Candidate in the 2027 Presidential Election?

political statement, that should have been the first project before the white elephant coastal high rubbers project.

Parachoko:
You don't mean it?

If you're truly happy with this development, who's your Candidate in the 2027 Presidential Election?

It's not about candidate, it's about National development. That's the difference between my IQ and yours. If I see a move that will foster National development, I will NEVER oppose it irrespective of my political affiliation.
Am not like those that will fight a president that wants to remove fuel subsidy only to later remove it.

We want more good news like dis....nice one Tinubu...u did well....

We hope it's not just another political statement because of the coming elections,you could imagine that Onne port that can be serving the south south,south east and some parts of the north have been neglected while new ports are awarded to Lekki,in the same Lagos they often claim is over populated and they ports are congested.
We have begged for this government to give necessary attention to Onne port calabar,so that businesses in Aba,Onitsha,Nnewi,south south and some parts of the north will save additional cost,as a result of using Lagos ports and its associated corruption,double taxation and entitlement mentality of the street boys of Lagos that depends on extorting these business moguls when they clear their goods from the port.

AustineE1:
We hope it's not just another political statement because of the coming elections,you could imagine that Onne port that can be serving the south south,south east and some parts of the north have been neglected while new ports are awarded to Lekki,in the same Lagos they often claim is over populated and they ports are congested.
We have begged for this government to give necessary attention to Onne port calabar,so that businesses in Aba,Onitsha,Nnewi,south south and some parts of the north will save additional cost,as a result of using Lagos ports and its associated corruption,double taxation and entitlement mentality of the street boys of Lagos that depends on extorting these business moguls when they clear their goods from the port.

Other govts didn't do it but Tinubu.
At least you should give him his flowers.

Too late we will wait for Peter Obi to build bigger vessel port instead.that we we are sure this is not AUDIO campaign approval.

Announced "approval". How much was disbursed for the project to commence and when is the completion timeline?

AMINDA:
Announced "approval". How much was disbursed for the project to commence and when is the completion timeline?

That's a far ask, I'm sure you already aware, all those guys commenting above are charlatans.

The oga of this government and those working under him are all crooks.

Audio project to loot money, observe how no mention of how much to be spent, which contractor was awarded or completion timeline

It looks like the outcry over Ogun 7$billon deep sea port, that is the reason for announcement of this audio port projects.

Dead on arrival, campaigns Audio project to loot money, observe how no mention of how much to be spent, which contractor was awarded or completion timeline.

You just trashed and battered a tribalist. Na so life suppose be, no hard feelings

clarocuzioo:
It's not about candidate, it's about National development. That's the difference between my IQ and yours. If I see a move that will foster National development, I will NEVER oppose it irrespective of my political affiliation.
Am not like those that will fight a president that wants to remove fuel subsidy only to later remove it.

Very Good Development 👍.

A better Nigeria is all we want at MANNABBQGRlLLS.

God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬 🙏

Electioneering season of making so much promises just to deceive the gullible electorate.

The wailers will still wail loudly.
For those wailing about ports in Lagos.

Lagos inherited a major head start from colonialism. Apapa is Nigeria's oldest major port and is located beside the country's largest commercial centre. It has long-established road, rail, warehousing, shipping and financial infrastructure.
Cargo naturally followed the biggest market. Lagos became the country's principal commercial gateway, creating a self-reinforcing cycle: more cargo, more shipping lines and terminals, more private investment, better infrastructure, again still more cargo. Lagos receives substantial private sector investment in terminals such as Apapa and Tin Can.

Onne port developed mainly around the oil-and-gas industry and became an Oil & Gas Free Zone. It is therefore significant, but its cargo profile is different from Lagos's huge consumer-import market. Lagos population attracts. Dredging and navigational limitations have affected Calabar and other eastern ports, and poor inland connections and inadequate infrastructure.

The Southeast has no coastline. This is basic primary 4 knowledge. States such as Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Abia depend on ports outside the region. This makes efficient road/rail connections to ports particularly important, but they don't seem to care about planning or building one.

Eleph:
Electioneering season of making so much promises just to deceive the gullible electorate.

An approval is not a promise to. SMH

You see why the people of Rivers voted massively for Tinubu?

We must all support the reelection bid of the president so he can continue to deliver on important projects like these

My Niger delta leaders will always be mumu

They are the highest mumu in this country


As if flooding their people in our oil industry was not enough

They use our oil as finance guarantees to expand south western ports and then come and whine us with mou and campaign promises in akwa ibom

I blame my people who don't know who their true enemies are in this British company called nigeria

Imagine a core southerner supporting coastal road that is meant to drive traffic from sw ports to the se and ss

A strategic move to keep the nation relying on them


One day we will sit down and really ask where this British company run by chagoury is taking us to

Election wayo


Election wayo

Image123:
An approval is not a promise to. SMH

Neither is it an implementation.

[quote author= post=140761851]Very Good Development 👍.

A better Nigeria is all we want at MANNABBQGRlLLS.

God bless Nigeria 🇳🇬 🙏[/quote]Una don wake up, thank God. Make i no talk.

clarocuzioo:
It's not a bitter news, trust me it's a welcomed development. Hope they see it through.
That's exactly what we want to happen. That's the difference between us and you people.

wailer is wailing again, president Tinubu is busy working while Peter obi is busy lying up and down

Eleph:
Neither is it an implementation.

Implementation of what? If it's easy, go and approve one more. Ingrates.

Election ghimmicks.... We were all here in 2024 when they were boasting that all our refineries have been refurbished and we're now working but after the whole thing, it ended up a first class lamba! Now they're beginning to say something about refurbishing, if you think this would not be another lamba that means you are a legendary fool! Anyone with thinks Tinubu will move port operations outside Lagos or it's environs must be a joker!!