The completion of seaports abandoned nationwide, estimated at $36.5 billion (or N54.76 trillion) and scheduled for delivery next year, remains uncertain.
Funding issues have stalled projects like the Bonny Deep Seaport, ($462 million), the Ibom Deep Seaport ($4.2 billion) and the Badagry Deep Seaport ($2.59 billion). Others are Ondo Port ($1.5 billion) and Escravos Deep Seaport, which is estimated to cost $27.29 billion.
The situation has led to calls for a re-evaluation of Nigeria’s approach to developing its port infrastructure.
Stakeholders have expressed uncertainty about the completion of the projects, citing poor planning, inadequate funding models and lack of coherent strategy for integrating the ports into the broader logistics network.
For instance, despite the Badagry Deep Seaport being slated to commence operations in 2025, no work has started on the site.
The Escravos project, intended to be part of a larger free trade zone including a refinery, gas complex and independent power plant, faces delay due to issues with land acquisition, environmental impact assessments and government approvals for international funding.
A former managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, acknowledged the delays, stating that the agency had received many proposals for developing deep seaports, including those in Ibom, Burutu, Bakassi, Bonny and Benin, all at different review stages.
He noted that the proposals from the promoters of the Escravos Deep Seaport lacked the necessary information for the authority to advise further.
Stakeholders have also highlighted the broader implications of the unfinished projects, expressing frustration over the lack of progress and describing them as “white elephant ventures” that drain resources without delivering the promised economic benefits.
A former director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Waredi Eniuosoh, criticised the exclusion of professionals in the project planning.
He also expressed scepticism about the ambitious timelines given for the projects, suggesting that the term “deep seaport” might have been used loosely.
“People come up with all these laudable ideas without surrounding themselves with grounded technical people. They feel professionals will take the shine off them. In the process, the plot is lost as challenges come,” Eniuosoh stated.
President of the Nigerian Association of Masters Mariners (NAMM), Tajudeen Alao, questioned the necessity of developing multiple seaports at every river outlet in Nigeria, noting that the country might only need three efficient smart ports.
Maritime expert, Alloy Rufus, said the ports represent a significant misallocation of resources and lost opportunities for economic development and job creation.
He described the projects as white elephant ventures, noting that the unfinished ports exacerbate port congestion in the country, particularly in Lagos, where the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports struggle to handle the expected volume of cargo.
