Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to address the persistent imbalance in cargo distribution between Lagos and Nigeria’s Eastern ports, insisting that a more balanced and interconnected port system is critical to reducing logistics costs and strengthening the country’s maritime competitiveness.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this at the General Meeting and Conference of the League of Maritime Editors in Lagos, where he said the Federal Government was determined to reposition the nation’s ports to complement one another rather than compete for attention and investment.

Oyetola, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Press, Mrs Anastasia Ogbonna, expressed concern over the heavy concentration of vessel and cargo traffic at Lagos ports, particularly Apapa and Tin Can Island, while major Eastern ports remain relatively underutilised.

According to him, the imbalance has consequences far beyond the ports, affecting national logistics costs, regional economic development, infrastructure utilisation, investment and the overall competitiveness of the maritime sector.

For decades, Lagos ports have handled the bulk of Nigeria’s seaborne cargo, largely because of their historical importance and the concentration of commercial and industrial activities in Lagos.

However, Oyetola noted that the heavy cargo concentration has placed enormous pressure on port and transport infrastructure, resulting in congestion, delays, longer cargo dwell and vessel turnaround times, increased demurrage and logistics costs, pressure on road infrastructure, environmental challenges and inefficiencies across the supply chain.

He said the Eastern ports, including Onne, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar, possess considerable strategic and economic potential that remains largely untapped.

“Their proximity to major industrial, agricultural, energy and commercial activities gives them a natural advantage in serving large sections of Nigeria’s hinterland,” the minister said.

He explained that stronger Eastern ports could support industrial clusters, facilitate exports, promote agro-allied value chains and stimulate economic activities across the South-East, South-South and Niger Delta regions.

But despite these advantages, Oyetola said the ports continue to grapple with draft limitations, inadequate infrastructure, navigation challenges, security concerns, poor hinterland connectivity, inadequate equipment, high operating costs and unreliable services.

These constraints, he noted, have affected their ability to attract regular and competitive vessel calls.

“The result is a cargo distribution imbalance that is neither beneficial to the national economy nor sustainable in the long term.
“Reversing this imbalance is not merely a regional demand; it is a national economic imperative,” he declared.

Lagos, Eastern Ports Must Complement Each Other

Oyetola said the Federal Government was pursuing a strategic approach to transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and position the sector as a stronger driver of economic growth.

“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and its agencies are committed to developing a port system in which Lagos and the Eastern Ports complement one another rather than compete for government attention and investment,” he said.

He explained that the modernisation and rehabilitation of the Eastern ports remain integral to the Federal Government’s broader port development strategy.

The interventions, according to him, will include improving channel depths and navigability, rehabilitating critical port infrastructure, enhancing navigational safety, upgrading cargo-handling facilities, strengthening maritime security and improving the operating environment for shipping lines, terminal operators and cargo owners.

The minister also stressed the importance of private-sector participation, noting that the scale of investment required to modernise Nigeria’s port infrastructure cannot be provided by government alone.

‘We Are Not Developing Lagos at East’s Expense’

Addressing concerns over the government’s ongoing focus on major modernisation projects at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, Oyetola said the prioritisation was based on operational urgency, economic necessity, project readiness and responsible sequencing.

He insisted that investment in Lagos should not be interpreted as a decision to abandon the Eastern ports.

“We are not developing Lagos Ports at the expense of the East. We are strengthening Lagos while building the capacity of the Eastern Corridor to assume a greater and more strategic share of national maritime traffic,” he declared.

According to him, the long-term objective is to establish a genuinely multi-port system where cargo owners and shipping lines have viable alternatives and can select gateways based on efficiency, cost, reliability and proximity to their markets.

However, Oyetola cautioned that infrastructure development alone would not automatically trigger cargo redistribution.

“Shipping lines make commercial decisions based on factors such as port draft, connectivity, security, operating costs and the overall reliability of port services,” he noted.
He therefore stressed the need for simultaneous improvements in infrastructure, security, connectivity, efficiency and the overall business environment.

Eastern Ports as Economic Growth Corridors

The minister acknowledged that the cargo imbalance between Lagos and the Eastern ports was the product of decades of historical, operational and infrastructure-related factors and could not be reversed overnight.

He nevertheless maintained that the imbalance could and must be addressed through deliberate policy and sustained investment.

Oyetola identified strategic infrastructure investment, private-sector participation, digital transformation, improved security and stronger multimodal connectivity as critical components of the solution.

He emphasised that modernising the Eastern ports should not be viewed as an isolated regional intervention, but as part of a national strategy to create a resilient, competitive and interconnected port system.

Under the proposed system, Lagos would continue to serve as a major maritime gateway, while Onne, Warri, Calabar and other viable ports would be developed to handle a larger and more diversified share of national and regional trade.

The ultimate objective, he said, is to create a maritime system where cargo moves through the gateway offering the greatest efficiency, reliability and value, irrespective of geographical location.

He added that achieving this would reduce logistics costs, strengthen regional economies, attract investment, create jobs, improve trade competitiveness and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime and logistics hub in West Africa.

Oyetola Charges Maritime Media on Accountability

The Minister also highlighted the role of maritime journalists in driving reforms and shaping public understanding of developments in the sector.

“The media is not merely a reporter of what happens in the sector. You are an important stakeholder in shaping public understanding, attracting investment and promoting accountability,” he said.

He urged the League of Maritime Editors to continue providing platforms for objective and evidence-based discussions on the challenges confronting the maritime industry.

Oyetola challenged maritime journalists to interrogate government policies, expose bottlenecks, draw attention to areas requiring urgent intervention and report meaningful progress in the sector.

He also assured the media that government must remain willing to listen to constructive criticism.

The minister maintained that the Federal Government’s vision was not simply to expand individual ports, but to create a connected national port network in which Lagos and the Eastern ports operate as complementary gateways.

Such a system, he argued, would distribute cargo more efficiently, reduce pressure on overstretched infrastructure, unlock the economic potential of the Eastern Corridor and ultimately make Nigeria’s maritime sector more competitive.

Gloria Odion Maritme reporter

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has smashed its previous single-day revenue record, raking in ₦28.102 billion in just 24 hours on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

The record ₦28,102,000,914.61 collection is the highest single-day revenue haul ever recorded by the Command, eclipsing the previous benchmark of ₦20.1 billion, achieved in September 2025, shortly after Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba assumed office as Customs Area Controller.

The latest feat comes barely three weeks after the Command posted another landmark performance, collecting an unprecedented ₦323 billion in July 2026.

The successive records point to a sustained revenue surge at Nigeria’s premier port command, driven by tighter compliance, improved trade facilitation, intelligence-led interventions and greater efficiency in digital Customs processes.

Reacting to the latest milestone, Comptroller Oshoba said the record should not be viewed merely as a collection figure, but as a reflection of Customs’ contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.

He noted that revenue generated by the Service forms part of government resources deployed to finance critical national priorities, including infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and other public services.

Oshoba dedicated the achievement to the government and people of Nigeria, while commending the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management team for their continued support for automation, modernisation and reforms designed to make Customs operations more efficient, transparent and business-friendly.

The Apapa CAC also acknowledged the cooperation of compliant importers, exporters, licensed Customs agents and other stakeholders, as well as Nigerians whose actionable intelligence has supported the Command’s enforcement and revenue-collection efforts.

He stressed that every compliant transaction contributes to national development, urging stakeholders to continue embracing legitimate trade.

According to him, a stronger revenue base gives government greater capacity to respond to citizens’ needs, provide critical infrastructure and create an environment in which businesses can thrive.

However, Oshoba cautioned officers and men of the Command against complacency, saying the latest record should be regarded not simply as an achievement but as a greater responsibility to deliver even better results.

He directed personnel to ensure that revenue collection remains balanced with trade facilitation, professionalism, transparency and respect for legitimate stakeholders.

The CAC further ordered officers to resolve genuine disputes promptly and ensure that Customs procedures do not unnecessarily frustrate lawful businesses.

With the latest record coming on the heels of its ₦323 billion July haul, the Apapa Area Command is increasingly emerging as a major engine of Customs revenue mobilisation, while simultaneously seeking to deepen compliance and facilitate legitimate trade.

The Command said it would sustain the momentum through enhanced revenue collection, improved trade facilitation, professionalism, digitalisation and stronger collaboration with stakeholders.

For Oshoba, the message behind the numbers is clear: every legitimate naira collected strengthens government’s capacity to deliver on its development agenda and improve the welfare of Nigerians.

Gloria Odion Maritme reporter 

The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has announced the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubuformer Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and  Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, as the keynote speaker at the 2026 edition of its Maritime Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL).

The flagship event is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Nigerian Air Force Event Centre, No. 1 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

The 2026 edition of MAMAL is themed “Nigerian Ports Modernisation, Charges and the Competitiveness Question.”

The lecture is expected to bring together senior government officials, maritime regulators, academics, shipping executives, freight forwarders, port users, journalists and other stakeholders to examine the challenges confronting Nigeria’s ports and the urgent reforms required to strengthen their competitiveness.

The Executive Director, Technical, of TANTITA Security Services Limited, Captain Warredi Enisouh, will chair the event, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, will attend as Special Guest of Honour.

Speaking on the significance of the theme, MARAN President, Mr. Yinka Onigbinde, said the lecture would provide a strategic platform for stakeholders to examine the need for modern, efficient and competitive port infrastructure.

According to him, modernising Nigeria’s ports is critical to improving cargo handling, reducing delays and logistics costs, attracting investment and strengthening the country’s position as a competitive maritime hub.

Onigbinde added that the lecture would also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to engage constructively on port charges and other factors affecting the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.

He described Hadiza Bala Usman as an experienced voice in the maritime industry whose knowledge and experience would add significant value to the discussions.

The MARAN President also expressed appreciation to Captain Enisouh for accepting to chair the event, noting that his experience in maritime security and industry development would further enrich the programme.

He said the presence of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy as Special Guest of Honour underscored the importance of the subject and the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector for greater efficiency and competitiveness.

Onigbinde noted that the 2026 edition would be the fourth in the MAMAL series, reinforcing MARAN’s commitment to providing a credible platform for informed debate, professional engagement and policy dialogue on critical issues affecting Nigeria’s maritime industry.

MARAN therefore invites government officials, maritime regulators, port operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, academics, industry associations, port users, the media and other stakeholders to participate in the landmark event.