•N90m allocated for ministry’s anniversary, celebration
The Federal Government may delay the rehabilitation of the dilapidated Tin Can Island, Apapa, Onne, Warri and Calabar seaport facilities, going by zero allocation for the projects in the 2025 budget.
Also, no funding has been earmarked for the construction and completion of inland dry ports or the long-neglected new deep seaport projects in Badagry, Snake Island, Burutu and Ondo.
A review of the N38.33 billion allocated to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in the 2025 budget proposal reveals that the rehabilitation projects of the ports have been excluded.
Instead, the government allocated N90 million for anniversaries and celebrations, N333.6 million for the purchase of motor vehicles, N122.2 million for office building rehabilitation and environmental audits, N24.5 million for office furniture and equipment and N14.7 million for the repair of the air conditioning system, offices toilets and roof.
Meanwhile, critical infrastructure projects received minimal allocations. For example, the implementation of the port modernisation programme was allocated only N10 million, while the implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage Act) and the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) received just N21.8 million.
In 2024, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, had secured a N10.9 billion budget, which included plans for the infrastructural development of ports. But no rehabilitation work has commenced.
The NPA and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy have been seeking $1 billion for the reconstruction of the affected seaport complexes, which pose a risk to vessels.
In contrast, a significant portion of the allocation has been directed to projects such as the construction of dry ports in Ijebu-Ode and Moniya, which have received N1.09 billion as well as the development of a fish terminal and harbour, which got N1.5 billion.
Research and development were allocated N3.4 billion and the construction/provision of waterways received N6.4 billion.
Still, N119 million has been earmarked for the establishment of a Regional Maritime Development Bank.
Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, had lamented the deplorable state of the seaports, particularly Tin Can and Apapa, which handle approximately 70 per cent of the country’s imports.
He said the rehabilitation works for the ports were overdue.
The Managing Director of Shipbait Nigeria Limited, Festus Nwiue, criticised the state of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, describing them as dangerous for vessels to berth.
He emphasised the need for urgent attention to port rehabilitation, arguing that improving port infrastructure is crucial for enhancing efficiency, reducing congestion and increasing trade volumes.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Taiwo Fatomilola, expressed disappointment over the lack of funding for port rehabilitation in the Federal Government’s budget.
He called the allocation for anniversaries and celebrations a misplaced priority, arguing that more funding should be directed toward projects that would improve the maritime industry, increase efficiency and reclaim vessels diverted to neighbouring countries.
