The Federal Government has announced plans to dredge seaports in the South-South region to a minimum draft of 16 metres to enable them to accommodate larger vessels and boost competitiveness in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday when he received a delegation from the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) led by its Managing Director, Ms Usoro Akpabio.
Oyetola described the South-South region as a vital part of Nigeria’s maritime future, citing its long coastline, strategic seaports, and abundant aquatic resources. According to him, “Dredging the ports deeper will attract larger vessels, reduce cargo handling costs, boost trade volumes and reduce the cost of doing business while generating more revenue for the country.”
The minister said the Federal Government is committed to advancing maritime infrastructure across the South-South to ensure the region contributes meaningfully to national economic growth. He added that existing seaports in the region—Warri Port in Delta State, Rivers Port and Onne Port in Rivers State, and Calabar Port in Cross River State—would soon undergo modernisation and upgrade under the Federal Government’s port modernisation programme.
Oyetola also revealed that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is partnering with state governments in the region to develop new deep seaports. These include the Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa State, the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, the Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River State, and the Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.
He explained that these projects would strengthen Nigeria’s maritime sector, making the country a regional hub for shipping and trade in the Gulf of Guinea. “This initiative will enhance logistics efficiency, drive industrial growth, and create employment opportunities,” he said.
Oyetola urged South-South state governments to leverage the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to promote coastal tourism, adding that the project offers immense economic potential for the region.
