Headlines

BUA’s $85m Port Harcourt terminal expansion project excites NPA

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has welcomed BUA Group’s $85 million investment in the expansion of its Port Harcourt terminal, describing the project as a major boost to cargo throughput, eastern port utilisation and Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading maritime hub in West Africa.

Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, disclosed the investment plan during a visit to the Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, where he briefed the authority on the progress of the terminal expansion and expressed appreciation for the agency’s support.

Rabiu said the project, now at an advanced stage, will provide about 600 metres of additional quay frontage, significantly increasing the company’s capacity to receive vessels and handle the growing volume of raw materials required for its expanding manufacturing operations.

According to him, the expansion is driven by BUA’s rapid growth across its food and manufacturing businesses, with the company projecting that more than two million tonnes of raw materials and products will move through the Port Harcourt facility annually once the project is completed next year.

“By the time we are done with the expansion, inshallah, next year, we’ll be having almost over two million tons of products being imported as raw materials to Port Harcourt, and for that we need a terminal, we need a facility,” Rabiu said.

He explained that the projected cargo volume would translate into about six to seven vessels calling at the terminal every month, making efficient port infrastructure indispensable to sustaining BUA’s supply chain.

Rabiu noted that the investment forms part of the conglomerate’s broader expansion strategy across cement, food processing, mining and infrastructure, stressing that efficient maritime logistics remain central to the success of those investments.

He also advocated greater investment in port infrastructure outside Lagos, arguing that Nigeria’s economic size requires a more balanced and geographically diversified port systey

Commending the NPA leadership, Rabiu described the authority as competent and supportive of private-sector investment, while thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing what he called a dedicated management team.

He recalled that BUA’s Port Harcourt terminal concession had previously been revoked but expressed satisfaction that the facility is now being expanded with the cooperation of the NPA, describing the development as evidence of the value of government-private sector collaboration.

Responding, NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho described Rabiu as one of the authority’s strategic stakeholders, assuring the company of continued institutional support.

He said the authority remains committed to investments capable of increasing cargo volumes, improving utilisation of eastern ports and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness within the regional maritime industry.

Dantsoho noted that while BUA had already established a significant presence in Lagos, its decision to expand into Port Harcourt would help rebalance cargo traffic across the country’s port system.

“Now we know that he has invested a lot in Lagos. Now he’s investing also a lot in Port Harcourt. So in that way, our volumes will increase. If we are talking about exporting, we are exporting more. If we are talking about importing, we can import more. And by so doing, we are going to create more value from those transactions,” he said.

According to him, increased cargo throughput at Port Harcourt would stimulate import and export activities, generate additional economic value and boost foreign exchange earnings.

The NPA boss said the authority’s strategy is anchored on close collaboration with terminal operators, investors and other stakeholders to build efficient, smart and globally competitive ports.

He added that BUA’s investment aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to revive eastern ports and ease pressure on the Lagos port corridor.

Dantsoho also cited recent assessments by S&P Global and the World Bank, which ranked Apapa and Tin Can Island ports among the world’s most improved ports, saying the recognition reflects the positive impact of ongoing reforms within Nigeria’s port system.

He stressed that sustained engagement between the NPA and private investors remains essential to achieving long-term growth and competitiveness.

“We know that we have to come to them. They know that they have to come to us. This is something that must happen for us to make any progress. And we are achieving that, so give God the glory,” he said.

The $85 million expansion is expected to significantly enhance BUA’s maritime logistics capacity while reinforcing the commercial importance of the Port Harcourt port complex.

Beyond supporting the company’s industrial expansion, the project is projected to increase cargo traffic through the eastern maritime corridor, deepen private-sector participation in port infrastructure development and advance the Federal Government’s objective of achieving a more balanced and efficient national port system.

Headlines

NIWA steps up waterways safety campaign as rainy season intensifies

Funso OLOJO, Editor

As the rainy season reaches its peak, bringing rising water levels, stronger currents and increased pollution, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified its waterways safety campaign by sensitising waterfront communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on safe navigation and environmental protection.

The NIWA Abuja Area/Liaison Office on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, conducted a Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Campaign at the Abaji Area Council, aimed at promoting safer water transportation and encouraging environmental stewardship among residents living in riverine communities.

The awareness programme reinforced the importance of adhering to safe navigation practices, proper use of safety equipment, and the collective responsibility of protecting Nigeria’s inland waterways from pollution and other environmental hazards.

The initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and supports the Federal Government’s policy of zero tolerance for water transport accidents and safety infractions.

Speaking during the campaign, the Area Manager of the Abuja Area/Liaison Office, Hajia Aisha Eri, expressed appreciation to the host communities for their cooperation and commitment to the exercise.

She reaffirmed NIWA’s determination to continue safeguarding the nation’s inland waterways while protecting the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on them.

Also speaking, the Emir of Kwali, HRH Alhaji Adamu Saba Aguma, commended NIWA for taking the safety enlightenment campaign to grassroots communities. He pledged the full support of traditional institutions in ensuring compliance with safety regulations and protecting the waterways.

Other traditional rulers, including the District Head of Kundu, John Dogole; the Sarkin Tungbufu, Mohammed Yusuf; the Sarkin Nassarawa, Ayahaya Nassarawa; the Sarkin Kutara, Musa Wabai; the Sarkin Kwago and Padama, Musa Alanana; and the Sarkin Kwakwa, Abdullahi Kwakwa, also lauded the initiative.

They expressed appreciation for the sensitisation programme and assured NIWA of their communities’ commitment to implementing the safety measures and environmental practices highlighted during the campaign.

The sensitisation exercise forms part of a nationwide directive by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, mandating sustained engagement with littoral communities to promote safety consciousness and reduce accidents on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

In line with the directive, the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, has instructed all Area Offices nationwide to accord the campaign the highest priority as part of the Authority’s broader strategy to enhance waterways safety.

NIWA said the Abuja Area Office will extend the campaign to other waterfront communities within and around the FCT in the coming week as it continues efforts to promote safer inland water transportation during the peak of the rainy season.

Headlines

Port Police lauds NPA for donating security equipment to boost port safety

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Ports Authority Police (Western) Command has commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for donating operational security equipment aimed at strengthening security across the nation’s seaports and waterfronts.

The presentation, held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, was made on behalf of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, by the Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Mr. Adebowale Lawal, alongside other senior officials of the Authority.

Speaking during the presentation, Lawal said the donation reflects the NPA’s unwavering commitment to reinforcing the security architecture of Nigeria’s ports.

He noted that the equipment would enhance the operational capability of the Ports Authority Police in protecting critical maritime infrastructure, safeguarding port users, and preventing security breaches within the port environment and adjoining waterfronts.

He explained that maintaining a secure port environment is essential to facilitating trade, attracting investment, and sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The donated items included bulletproof vests, tactical helmets, raincoats, flashlights, handcuffs, operational boots, batons, and other essential security gear to improve the safety, efficiency, and operational readiness of police personnel.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Command, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, CP Oluwatoyin Agbaminoja, expressed gratitude to the NPA Managing Director and the Authority’s management for what she described as a timely and strategic intervention.

She said the donation further demonstrates the strong partnership between the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Police Force in securing the country’s maritime gateways.

Agbaminoja assured the NPA that the equipment would be effectively deployed to strengthen policing operations and enhance security across the nation’s ports.

She reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and business-friendly port environment that supports efficient port operations, trade facilitation, and national economic growth, while pledging continued collaboration with stakeholders to keep Nigeria’s seaports safe, secure, and globally competitive.

Commentaries

Two years of Dantsoho at NPA: The architecture of efficiency boom

Ibrahim Nasiru

This July, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho marks exactly two years as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), providing a vital opportunity to separate institutional noise from actual structural progress.

For decades, Nigeria’s maritime gateways were plagued by massive infrastructural deficits, manual gridlocks, and fragmented policies.

Today, through a deliberate blend of home-grown institutional experience and top-tier academic expertise in maritime technology, Dantsoho is rewriting that narrative from the inside out.

He has successfully shifted the NPA away from reactive firefighting and anchored it firmly on aggressive, infrastructure-led growth.

His two-year legacy is anchored on absolute automation and massive capital injection.

By securing a landmark $1 billion in dedicated modernization funding for the comprehensive rehabilitation of aging gateways and aggressively spearheading the National Single Window infrastructure, his office is systematically eliminating the human bottlenecks that feed desk corruption at the Ports.

This structural renaissance is not just about aesthetics; it is about rebuilding the foundational complexes of Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, and Calabar to withstand the demands of modern global trade.

The financial reward for this fiscal discipline is already evident, with the authority confidently pacing toward an unprecedented ₦1.489 trillion revenue peak for the 2026 fiscal year.

This massive revenue trajectory cements Nigeria’s role as West Africa’s undisputed trade hub and proves that the administration’s fiscal leaks are being blocked effectively through digital transformation.

By driving the final operational phases of the Port Community System (PCS) to anchor the newly approved National Single Window, Dantsoho is systematically transforming the clearing ecosystem from a manual bureaucrat’s playground into a highly transparent, hyper-efficient digital gateway.

While local operators and stakeholders continue to demand closer engagement, Dantsoho’s strategic blueprint demonstrates that his focus remains entirely on delivering the long-awaited structural environment where every maritime stakeholder can seamlessly thrive.

Sustainable stakeholder engagement isn’t about cosmetic public relations; it is about deploying top-tier technocratic expertise to build a Port ecosystem where trade flows seamlessly, predictably, and profitably.

With automated transshipment channels opening up to landlocked neighbouring countries via Lekki Deep Seaport, the foundation for total ease of doing business has finally been poured.

What makes Dantsoho’s career worth celebrating over the last twenty-four months is the climate in which he has delivered these reforms.

In an era where international shipping lines are highly sensitive to operational delays, the NPA has aggressively reduced ship turnaround times and improved cargo throughput.

This latest two-year milestone is a timely reminder that while maritime challenges are complex, the value of raw human integrity, deep institutional memory, and consistent high-quality output can never be replaced.

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has proven that he is not just a placeholder in office, but an architect building the future of Nigerian maritime trade.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja