The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that nearly 300 commercial disputes in the maritime sector have been resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), as part of ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing business at Nigerian ports.
Oyetola also said port modernisation had remained at the centre of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda for the maritime sector.
The Minister made the disclosure while presenting his three-year scorecard, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola.
He said the Federal Government had, over the past three years, implemented a comprehensive programme aimed at modernising some of the country’s major seaports, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri ports.
According to him, the programme covers channel improvements, the deployment of modern cargo-handling infrastructure and increased digitisation of terminal operations.
He said the measures were designed to improve operational efficiency and position Nigerian ports to handle larger volumes of international trade.
“The programme includes channel improvements, modern cargo-handling infrastructure and increased digitisation of terminal operations, with the objective of improving efficiency and positioning Nigerian ports to handle larger volumes of international trade,” Oyetola said.
The Minister said the reforms had also earned Nigeria international recognition, noting that the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence ranked Tin Can Island Port 10th and the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, 12th among the world’s 20 most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.
Oyetola said the government had also recorded progress in tackling the long-standing congestion around the Apapa port environment.
He attributed the improvement to measures including the electronic truck call-up system, dedicated truck holding bays and the expansion of inland barging operations.
He added that the acquisition of modern tugboats, pilot cutters and dredging equipment by the Nigerian Ports Authority had further strengthened the operational capacity of the ports.
“We have moved from managing congestion to building a port system that can compete globally,” the Minister said.
Oyetola further disclosed that the Federal Government was pursuing a broader expansion of port capacity through deep-seaport projects across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, Lagos and Rivers states.
He said the operationalisation of Inland Dry Ports was also part of the government’s strategy to decentralise cargo handling and reduce pressure on Nigeria’s coastal gateways.
According to him, facilities such as the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State would bring cargo-handling and clearance services closer to businesses in the hinterland.
The Minister said regulatory reforms in the maritime sector had also produced tangible benefits for businesses and other port users.
He explained that the new Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Authority framework would strengthen economic regulation within the port sector.
Oyetola further disclosed that interventions by the Ministry and its agencies had saved port users more than N86bn in what he described as unjustified demurrage charges.
He said the Ministry had also introduced measures to eliminate unauthorised shipping charges and strengthen freight and foreign-exchange verification.
According to him, the initiatives were aimed at reducing leakages, improving transparency and curbing capital flight within the maritime sector.
On maritime security, Oyetola said improvements in port efficiency had been accompanied by significant gains in the fight against piracy.
He said Nigeria had maintained zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters for four consecutive years, with the achievement supported by maritime security assets procured and deployed under the Deep Blue Project.
According to the Minister, the sustained improvement in maritime security had helped eliminate costly piracy-related surcharges imposed on vessels calling at Nigerian ports.
He added that the development had also strengthened Nigeria’s reputation as a safer maritime corridor and improved the country’s standing within the international maritime community.
Oyetola said the Federal Government would continue to pursue reforms and investments aimed at creating a more efficient, competitive and secure maritime sector capable of contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.
