Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has stated that nearly 300 commercial disputes have also been resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution, adding that port modernisation has remained at the centre of the Ministry’s transformation agenda.
The Special Adviser to Oyetola, Dr Bolaji Akinola, disclosed this in a recent statement.
Oyetola made the disclosure while presenting his three-year scorecard, noting that the Federal Government had, over the period, implemented a comprehensive programme to modernise Nigeria’s major seaports, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri.
“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.
He added that the reforms have also attracted international recognition.
According to him, 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 has also made significant progress in addressing the long-standing congestion around the Apapa port environment through the electronic truck call-up system, dedicated holding bays and expanded inland barging.
Oyetola emphasised that the acquisition of modern tugboats, pilot cutters and dredging equipment by the Nigerian Ports Authority had further strengthened port operations.
“We have moved from managing congestion to building a port system that can compete globally,” Oyetola said.
He said the Federal Government is also pursuing a broader expansion of port capacity through deep-seaport projects in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, Lagos and Rivers states.
The Minister also said that the operationalisation of Inland Dry Ports, including the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State, is similarly intended to bring cargo-handling and clearance services closer to businesses in the hinterland and reduce the pressure on coastal gateways.
Oyetola said regulatory reforms have also produced tangible benefits for businesses operating within the maritime sector.
The new Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Authority framework, Oyetola said, will strengthen economic regulation of the port sector, while interventions through the Ministry and its agencies have saved port users more than N86bn in unjustified demurrage.
Oyetola said the Ministry has further introduced measures aimed at eliminating unauthorised shipping charges and strengthening freight and foreign-exchange verification in an effort to reduce leakages and curb capital flight.
He said the reforms were intended to create a maritime business environment in which legitimate operators could compete on a level playing field while protecting Nigerian businesses from avoidable costs.
“The improvement in port efficiency has been accompanied by progress in maritime security,” he said.
Nigeria, according to Oyetola, has maintained zero piracy in its territorial waters for four consecutive years, supported by maritime security assets procured and deployed under the Deep Blue Project.
He said the achievement has helped to eliminate costly piracy-related surcharges on vessels calling at Nigerian ports while reinforcing the country’s reputation as a safer maritime corridor.
The Minister said the security gains have also strengthened Nigeria’s standing within the international maritime community.
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