FG to Replicate Lekki Deep Seaport Model Nationwide, Assures Oyetola
The Federal Government has announced plans to replicate the Lekki Deep Seaport model across Nigeria, in a bid to modernize the nation’s maritime sector and position it as a hub for global trade.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made this known during a Nigerian Chamber of Shipping Breakfast Meeting themed “Unlocking Opportunities: The Lekki Deep Seaport Playbook for Trade and Shipping in Nigeria.”
He described the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport as a landmark achievement and game-changer that has already demonstrated efficiency in cargo handling, attracted foreign investment, and created thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
According to him, the project provides a template for revamping other ports across the country.
“We want to replicate the success of Lekki Deep Seaport in all our major ports. The model—based on strategic location, public-private partnership, integrated transport infrastructure, supportive policies, and technology-driven operations—will guide the modernization of both western and eastern ports,” the minister said.
Under the initiative, ports in Apapa and Tin Can Island in Lagos, as well as Onne, Calabar, and Rivers in the eastern corridor, will undergo major upgrades. These will include improved cargo-handling capacity, digital systems for operations, and streamlined processes to reduce congestion.
As part of the reform drive, the government is finalizing the Port Community System integrated with the National Single Window, designed to usher in a paperless and transparent maritime environment.
This system will cut bureaucracy, boost efficiency, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in international shipping.
The minister also revealed that the government has directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to begin disbursement of the long-awaited Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund to qualified Nigerian shipowners.
He explained that this would empower indigenous operators, strengthen local capacity, and pave the way for the establishment of a National Shipping Carrier.
The Lekki Deep Seaport, which began full operations in April 2023, is Nigeria’s largest seaport and among the biggest in West Africa. With an initial container handling capacity of 2.5 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually and future expansion plans targeting 6 million TEUs, the port represents a major leap in maritime infrastructure.
It features advanced ship-to-shore cranes and automated systems that drastically reduce human error and waiting times for cargo clearance.
Stakeholders believe that replicating Lekki’s model will ease congestion at traditional ports like Apapa, strengthen Nigeria’s role as a regional trade hub, create jobs and stimulate local economies, improve revenue generation through efficient cargo handling, and ensure more balanced development between western and eastern ports.
Oyetola emphasized that these reforms are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes infrastructure modernization, economic diversification, and sustainable blue economy growth.
