4 days ago
25
By Steve Agbota
The federal government is set to unlock 20,000 new jobs through the modernisation of the eastern ports, a move designed to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime, boost trade and position the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa in line with Agenda 63.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made this disclosure in Lagos during an interactive session with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, stating that the procurement process for the eastern ports modernisation is being fast-tracked. He emphasised that the ministry’s vision is to ensure the sustainable harnessing of Nigeria’s marine resources, positioning the country as a premier maritime nation.
To lay a solid foundation for this vision, he noted that the ministry, through multi-layered stakeholder engagement and consultations, has crafted a National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which will soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
Oyetola highlighted the ministry’s significant achievements, stating that it carries out its mandate through its various agencies. One notable milestone is the recent approval for the modernisation of the Western Ports, including the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and Tin Can Island Port Complex.
He further reiterated that the procurement process for the Eastern Ports modernisation is being fast-tracked, with expectations that the projects will generate over 20,000 jobs upon completion.
The Minister also outlined ongoing efforts in the development of greenfield port projects, including Badagry, Ilaje, Olokola, Agge, Ibaka, Burutu, Snake Island, Bakassi Deep Seaports, river ports, and jetties. Additionally, he highlighted the expansion of Inland Dry Ports across the country to facilitate trade.
According to him, the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina has already been commissioned, while the Kaduna and Kano Inland Dry Ports are actively supporting trade operations.
Other inland dry ports in Abia, Plateau, and Borno States are at various stages of completion.
On port operational efficiency, Oyetola noted that the ministry’s policy reforms and agency implementations have significantly improved export volumes over the past two years. This is reflected in the positive trade balances reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a development largely driven by reforms at the Export Terminals.
“Tied to this is the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW), a platform designed to streamline trade compliance processes by linking ports with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, creating a seamless and efficient system,” he stated.
To complement the National Single Window Project, he revealed that the Ministry and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) are finalizing the Port Community System (PCS)—an electronic platform that will centralize and automate processes among stakeholders in port services. This system is envisioned as a One-Stop-Shop for all port-related activities.
Furthermore, Oyetola highlighted that the shipping lanes across West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea have recorded zero piracy incidents for three consecutive years, thanks to the implementation of the Deep Blue Sea Project and the Falcon Eye Surveillance System. These advanced monitoring and response systems have significantly enhanced maritime security through coordinated efforts by the ministry and its agencies.
Regarding Nigeria’s bid for a Category C seat in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Oyetola disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his approval, and the IMO has been formally notified. Nigeria has now commenced the necessary preparations to secure its seat on the global maritime regulatory body.
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