The federal government has unveiled plans to replicate the success of the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport across the country, describing it as a model for transformative growth in the maritime industry.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos at the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping Breakfast Meeting themed “Unlocking Opportunities: The Lekki Deep Seaport Playbook for Trade and Shipping in Nigeria.”
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to building a modern, safe, efficient and globally competitive maritime sector, with the Lekki project serving as a template.
“The maritime industry stands at the heart of our 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,” Oyetola said.
He explained that the Lekki Deep Seaport, with a capacity to handle 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels, has already created thousands of direct and indirect jobs. He added that improved road access has freed Lagos ports from decades-long congestion.
“Cargo now moves out faster, investors move in with confidence, and trade flows without unnecessary delay,” the minister noted.
Though currently operating at just 20 per cent of its installed capacity, Oyetola said the Lekki Port remains a “landmark achievement” and a “game-changer” for West Africa, offering vast untapped opportunities for investors.
According to him, the “Lekki playbook” rests on five pillars: strategic location, robust public–private partnerships, integrated transport links, supportive policies, and technology-driven operations.
Building on this model, Oyetola disclosed that the government is modernising the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports and upgrading the Eastern Ports in Onne, Calabar, and Rivers State.
He said, “Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, 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.”
On indigenous participation, the minister announced that he has directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to commence immediate disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) to qualified Nigerian shipowners.
He stressed that building a strong national fleet and establishing a National Flag Carrier remain crucial to strengthening local capacity and asserting Nigeria’s presence on global trade lanes.
Concluding, Oyetola described the Lekki Deep Seaport as “clear evidence of what can be achieved when policy, vision, investment, and execution align,” urging stakeholders to replicate and scale the model for Nigeria’s prosperity.
The Breakfast Meeting attracted heads of government agencies, representatives of terminal operators, shipping companies and the organised private sector.
