Wednesday, October 29Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Tag: Nigerian Ports Authority NPA

Port Harcourt,  Warri,  Calabar  Ports Gear up for face lift as FG Begins  Multi Milion Dollar Procurement Bids                       Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced  procurement process for the modernisation of seaports outside Lagos, as part of efforts to ensure balanced development across the nation’s maritime gateways.  Oyetola stated this on Wednesday at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria Conference, themed “Enhancing Logistics and Transport for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria,” held in Lagos.  Represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Minister said the ongoing port modernisation drive is aimed at upgrading infrastructure, improving cargo handling efficiency, and expanding capacity to meet global standards.  “We are working closely with all stakeholders to achieve a paperless, technology-driven port environment that enhances efficiency, reduces turnaround time, and curbs corruption,” Oyetola said. “As part of this commitment, the Federal Government has approved a one billion US dollar modernisation project for the Lagos ports — a landmark initiative designed to upgrade infrastructure, improve cargo handling, and expand capacity to meet global standards.  “In addition, the procurement process has commenced for similar modernisation projects at ports outside Lagos, to ensure balanced development across our maritime gateways.”  Oyetola explained that the initiatives reflect the administration’s determination to boost logistics performance and competitiveness within the marine and transport sectors, positioning Nigeria as a preferred hub for maritime trade and investment.  He further noted that through strategic interventions such as the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria has sustained a record of zero piracy incidents in the past three years.  “Since the inception of the Ministry, we have focused on strategic reform and institutional strengthening. With the Deep Blue Project and other interventions, we are safeguarding our maritime domain to encourage investment and reduce the cost of doing business. I am glad to inform you that for more than three years, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents on its waterways,” he said.   The Minister also revealed that the government has developed a comprehensive 10-year National Blue Economy Strategy to align maritime, fisheries, logistics, and coastal development policies within a unified, sustainable framework.  According to him, the Ministry is creating an enabling environment for private sector investment through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships (PPP), and targeted incentives aimed at driving innovation and job creation across the value chain.  Oyetola stressed that the Ministry’s overarching goal is to promote sustainable and inclusive growth — one that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and social equity.  “Our goal is not growth for growth’s sake, but sustainable and inclusive growth — one that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and social equity,” he said.  “Therefore, I urge CILT and its members to continue to champion the adoption of smart and green transport technologies; promote capacity building for young professionals and operators; advocate for data-driven planning in logistics management; and deepen collaboration with the Ministry and other stakeholders to align expertise with national priorities.” .  Meanwhile, the President of CILT Nigeria, Mfon Usoro, announced a 242 percent increase in the Institute’s revenue over the past four years, reflecting the success of ongoing financial reforms and governance initiatives.  According to her, CILT’s revenue rose from ₦7.8 million in December 2021 to ₦55 million in the third quarter of 2025, while its liquid assets grew from ₦17 million in early 2022 to ₦123 million as of Q3 2025.  She attributed the growth to sound financial discipline, accountability, and strategic oversight, adding that all projects and expenditures now pass through the Finance, Budget, and Audit Committee for review.   “Every disbursement request is scrutinised and audited quarterly. The outcome has been phenomenal,” she noted.   Usoro revealed that the Council has approved the adoption of a modern Accounting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to enhance transparency and streamline audits.  She said CILT’s transformation agenda—launched in 2021—has focused on governance reforms, membership expansion, and digitalisation, all of which have delivered tangible progress.  Established in 1958, CILT Nigeria operates under the global CILT network headquartered in the United Kingdom and serves as the professional body for logistics and transport practitioners in Nigeria.   “Accountability and transparency remain our watchwords. The improvement in our financial standing reflects the confidence and trust of our members,” Usoro said.    The 2025 annual conference brought together industry leaders, academics, and policymakers to discuss sustainable transport systems, digitalisation in logistics, and the Blue Economy.

Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar Ports Gear up for face lift as FG Begins Multi Milion Dollar Procurement Bids Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced procurement process for the modernisation of seaports outside Lagos, as part of efforts to ensure balanced development across the nation’s maritime gateways. Oyetola stated this on Wednesday at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria Conference, themed “Enhancing Logistics and Transport for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria,” held in Lagos. Represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Minister said the ongoing port modernisation drive is aimed at upgrading infrastructure, improving cargo handling efficiency, and expanding capacity to meet global standards. “We are working closely with all stakeholders to achieve a paperless, technology-driven port environment that enhances efficiency, reduces turnaround time, and curbs corruption,” Oyetola said. “As part of this commitment, the Federal Government has approved a one billion US dollar modernisation project for the Lagos ports — a landmark initiative designed to upgrade infrastructure, improve cargo handling, and expand capacity to meet global standards. “In addition, the procurement process has commenced for similar modernisation projects at ports outside Lagos, to ensure balanced development across our maritime gateways.” Oyetola explained that the initiatives reflect the administration’s determination to boost logistics performance and competitiveness within the marine and transport sectors, positioning Nigeria as a preferred hub for maritime trade and investment. He further noted that through strategic interventions such as the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria has sustained a record of zero piracy incidents in the past three years. “Since the inception of the Ministry, we have focused on strategic reform and institutional strengthening. With the Deep Blue Project and other interventions, we are safeguarding our maritime domain to encourage investment and reduce the cost of doing business. I am glad to inform you that for more than three years, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents on its waterways,” he said. The Minister also revealed that the government has developed a comprehensive 10-year National Blue Economy Strategy to align maritime, fisheries, logistics, and coastal development policies within a unified, sustainable framework. According to him, the Ministry is creating an enabling environment for private sector investment through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships (PPP), and targeted incentives aimed at driving innovation and job creation across the value chain. Oyetola stressed that the Ministry’s overarching goal is to promote sustainable and inclusive growth — one that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and social equity. “Our goal is not growth for growth’s sake, but sustainable and inclusive growth — one that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and social equity,” he said. “Therefore, I urge CILT and its members to continue to champion the adoption of smart and green transport technologies; promote capacity building for young professionals and operators; advocate for data-driven planning in logistics management; and deepen collaboration with the Ministry and other stakeholders to align expertise with national priorities.” . Meanwhile, the President of CILT Nigeria, Mfon Usoro, announced a 242 percent increase in the Institute’s revenue over the past four years, reflecting the success of ongoing financial reforms and governance initiatives. According to her, CILT’s revenue rose from ₦7.8 million in December 2021 to ₦55 million in the third quarter of 2025, while its liquid assets grew from ₦17 million in early 2022 to ₦123 million as of Q3 2025. She attributed the growth to sound financial discipline, accountability, and strategic oversight, adding that all projects and expenditures now pass through the Finance, Budget, and Audit Committee for review. “Every disbursement request is scrutinised and audited quarterly. The outcome has been phenomenal,” she noted. Usoro revealed that the Council has approved the adoption of a modern Accounting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to enhance transparency and streamline audits. She said CILT’s transformation agenda—launched in 2021—has focused on governance reforms, membership expansion, and digitalisation, all of which have delivered tangible progress. Established in 1958, CILT Nigeria operates under the global CILT network headquartered in the United Kingdom and serves as the professional body for logistics and transport practitioners in Nigeria. “Accountability and transparency remain our watchwords. The improvement in our financial standing reflects the confidence and trust of our members,” Usoro said. The 2025 annual conference brought together industry leaders, academics, and policymakers to discuss sustainable transport systems, digitalisation in logistics, and the Blue Economy.

News Feature
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced procurement process for the modernisation of seaports outside Lagos, as part of efforts to ensure balanced development across the nation’s maritime gateways. Oyetola stated this on Wednesday at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria Conference, themed “Enhancing Logistics and Transport for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria,” held in Lagos. Represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Minister said the ongoing port modernisation drive is aimed at upgrading infrastructure, improving cargo handling efficiency, and expanding capacity to meet global standards. “We are working closel...
African Must Translate Marine Comparative Advantages To Economic Prosperity- Dantsoho

African Must Translate Marine Comparative Advantages To Economic Prosperity- Dantsoho

News Feature, Port News
The President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, on Monday said there is an urgent need for African countries to translate their marine comparative advantages into opportunities for the collective prosperity of their respective countries. Speaking at the PMAWCA Board of Directors and Ports Statisticians Network Meetings in Luanda, Angola, Dantsoho who is also the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), stated that the sustainability of Africa countries rests heavily on the sustainability of their seaports. According to the PMAWCA boss, apart from being linked by water, countries in West and Central Africa are linked by challenges and opportunities. "The need to translate our marine comparative advantages i...
NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLE NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.

NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLE NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.

News Feature, Port News
In a development that signposts readiness to maximize the gains derivable from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on 2nd July at 05:05 hours deployed its state-of-the-art marine crafts to berth the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel. The container vessel with International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 9508770 christened MV Ocean Dragon is owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) gives a boost to concerted investment drive geared towards reaping the cost and time saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region and offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s ef...
Tinubu Appoints Executive Directors for NIMASA,  NPA

Tinubu Appoints Executive Directors for NIMASA, NPA

Press Release
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Executive Directors in two (2) agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy:Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA): (A) Ms. Vivian C. Richard Edet — Executive Director, Finance & Administration (NPA) (B) Engr. Olalekan Badmus — Executive Director, Marine & Operations (NPA) (C) Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar — Executive Director, Engineering & Technical Services (NPA) Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (D) Mr. Jibril Abba — Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services (NIMASA) (E) Mr. Chudi Offodile — Executive Director, Finance & Administration (NIMASA) (F) Engr. Fatai Taye Adeyemi — Executive Director, Operations (NIMASA) The President approves these...
BELLO KOKO INITIATES OVERTIME CARGO EVACUATION AT NIGERIAN PORTS

BELLO KOKO INITIATES OVERTIME CARGO EVACUATION AT NIGERIAN PORTS

Port News
The sustained advocacy of the Mohammed Bello Koko- led Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the decongestion of the Ports to pave way for efficient operations received a boost on 23rd June, 2023, when Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transportation Dr. Magdelene Ajani led an inter-agency team comprising of the NPA, Nigerian Customs (NCS)and the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) on assessment tour of overtime cargoes littering the Ports. The Lagos and Tin can Island Port Complexes and the Terminals therein including Ikorodu Lighter Terminal have over the years been occupied with 3,200 Units of overtime cars and about 3,295 units of overtime containers respectively, while the eastern ports have a combined total of 956 overtime containers. This awkward situation a...
SHIPPERS COUNCIL, TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY TO SENSITISE STAKEHOLDERS

SHIPPERS COUNCIL, TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY TO SENSITISE STAKEHOLDERS

News Feature, Port News
The Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), in collaboration with Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) is organizing a sensitization programme on some functions of the council. The programme, which will be chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, is scheduled to hold Friday 22nd, July, 2022 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 9.00am. The theme of the programme "Port Economic Regulator - NSC in Focus” is aimed at enlightening the stakeholders and the general public on the mandate of Nigerian Shippers' Council as Port Economic Regulator. A paper titled " Promoting Competitiveness and Compliance in Nigerian maritime Industry", will be presented at this much anticipated event by Prof. Bongo Adi, a maritime economist. Re...
NPA Top Job: How Amaechi Floored Kaduna Mafia

NPA Top Job: How Amaechi Floored Kaduna Mafia

News Feature, Politics, Port News
The week and months leading to the dethronement of Hadiza Bala Usman at Marina House unravelled like the epic biblical battle between David and Goliath. While Hadiza Bala Usman drummed up the entire war chest of the famed Kaduna Mafia, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, had the backing of a little-known Kebbi Mafia, featuring Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as its Consigliere. It was the classic setting for a battle of wits between the proud, powerful and established order confronted by an emerging force seeking to usurp the status quo. Kaduna Mafia, for the records, was founded in 1966 by a group of Nigeria’s northern intelligentsia made up of civil servants, businessmen and top military officers who resided or conducted activitie...
Doyen of Maritime Journalism, Asu Beks, drops landmark case against Hadiza Bala Usman, Adesoye

Doyen of Maritime Journalism, Asu Beks, drops landmark case against Hadiza Bala Usman, Adesoye

Breaking News, Maritime, Port News
Backdropped against the rising tide of appeals by well-meaning Nigerians, both home and abroad, the Doyen of Maritime Journalism and Publisher of foremost maritime journal, Shipping World, Elder Asu Beks, yesterday formally withdrew the case against suspended Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman and the Chairman of the NPA Board, Chief Emmanuel Adesoye. In the Suit No: FHC/L/CS/485/2021- Elder Asu Beks & 2 Ors V The President Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors, they had prayed the court to quash the re-appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman for a second term in office without having served out her first term. It also asked the court to quash the appointment of the NPA Board which negated the provisions of the NPA Act. In a letter dated 15th November, 2021...
BELLO KOKO UNVEILS PLANS TO STOP APAPA GRIDLOCK AS NPA PARTNERS LAGOS STATE ON “OPERATION GREEN”

BELLO KOKO UNVEILS PLANS TO STOP APAPA GRIDLOCK AS NPA PARTNERS LAGOS STATE ON “OPERATION GREEN”

Misc
The Nigerian Ports Authority, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and relevant security agencies will commence a full scale clean-up operations at the two Lagos Ports on Monday 5th July, 2021. The excercise tagged "360 Degrees Cargo Clearance" is expected to cover all entry approaches to the Tin Can Island Complex, Lagos Port Complex, Kirikiri Lighter Terminals I&II and the port corridor crisscrossing Tin Can – Coconut – Sunrise – Mile 2 – Orile – Ijora Sifax – Ijora Olopa – Lilypond – Area B – Wharf Road – Creek Road – Old Dockyard Road – Seaplane – Apapa Wharf Gate. The operations will ensure the clearance of shanties, kiosks, abandoned vehicles, machineries, equipment, containers obstructing the free flow of traffic as well as those constituting environmental nuis...