…to establish a private-sector-led national flag carrier
Nigeria is set to become the transshipment hub for West Africa following the massive investments being undertaken in infrastructure under the guidance of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
“The procurement process for the mordernisation of the Eastern Ports is being fast tracked. The goal is to ensure that our port system collectively become the transshipment hub for the subregion. When the mordernisation is completed, the draft of our port will be 16 – 17 meters. It is currently 12 – 13 meters. This will allow bigger vessels to berth and reverse the revenue loss to neighbouring ports of Tema, Lome and Cotonou. These port rehabilitation projects by NPA, are expected to generate over 20,000 jobs,” Oyetola said at a news briefing yesterday.
Transshipment is a complex supply chain process involving the transportation of cargo containers from one vessel to another while in transit to its final port of discharge.
During transshipment, the containers are unloaded at an intermediary site, reloaded onto a different vessel, and transported to the final destination. This intermediate location or the point of transfer is known as the transshipment hub.
The Federal Executive Council last week approved the award of contract for the Modernization of the Western Ports (Lagos Port Complex, Apapa & Tin-Can Island Port Complex, Apapa with a completion period of forty-eight (48) months.
The modernisation of seaports remains a top priority of the President Bola Tinubu administration, according to Oyetola.
Nigeria is blessed with a coastline of 853 kilometers bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea with significant and diverse marine resources. We have an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 300,000 square kilometers and inland waterways resources estimated at 10,000kms, capable of supporting a vibrant intra-regional trade.
To bridge the infrastructure gap, the Ministry is promoting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to attract private-sector investment in port modernization, channel dredging, automation, inland waterways development, ferry/cruise services, cargo handling equipment deployment, terminal operations, and technological innovation.
Additionally, it is extending necessary support to private investors to encourage participation in greenfield port projects such as Badagry, Ilaje, Olokola, Agge, Ibaka, Burutu, Snake Island, Bakassi, Deep Sea Ports as well as the development of river ports and jetties across the country, Oyetola said.
The Ministry is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Ministry of Works to rehabilitate internal access roads and improve port connectivity, reducing congestion and transit time.
To further enhance trade facilitation, the government is implementing the National Single Window (NSW) project.
This digital platform will streamline trade compliance processes, link ports with relevant government agencies and stakeholders and create a seamless, efficient system.
To complement this NSW, the Ministry and NPA are also finalizing the Port Community System, an electronic platform to centralize and automate processes among stakeholders in port services.
The Port Community System (PCS), will serve as a One Stop Shop for all the stakeholders in the Port System, as part of the digitalization of port processes and operations.
Meanwhile, Oyetola said the Ministry, in concert with its agencies, has constituted a National Fleet Implementation Committee to establish a private-sector-led national flag carrier.
“This initiative aims to create employment, reposition the maritime sector, and generate revenue for the government,” Oyetola said.
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