The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, in an interview with ADAKU ONYENUCHEYA, speaks on the commencement of the $1 billion port modernisation programme, the deployment of digital solutions for efficiency, efforts to sustain Nigeria’s improving global port ranking and strategies being deployed to strengthen the country’s port value chain and competitiveness.

The Federal Government continues to push its Port Modernisation Programme. What progress has been made so far and when should Nigerians expect visible improvements in port infrastructure and operations?
The Port Modernisation Programme is our landmark initiative designed to comprehensively overhaul ageing quay walls, deepen navigational channels, and fully automate terminal infrastructure across all port locations.

Physical construction works of the $1 billion port modernisation programme will officially commence by the end of this quarter. Ahead of that, we are ramping up all final non-construction prerequisites. This includes extensive host community engagements and stakeholder consultations to prepare port communities for the deployment of heavy equipment and civil works.

Nigerians can therefore expect to see major physical infrastructural upgrades and operational equipment overhauls beginning from Q4 of 2026. Once fully phased in, the programme is projected to deliver up to a 50 per cent reduction in vessel turnaround times and significantly improve cargo handling efficiency.

Port modernisation goes beyond civil works. It also encompasses green port initiatives, channel clearance, and automated vessel tracking.

We are currently acquiring state-of-the-art tugboats and pilot cutters, rehabilitating damaged quay walls at Tin-Can and Apapa, and installing modern Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) technology to monitor and safeguard Nigerian territorial waters.

Has NPA secured funding from international partners?
Yes, funding has been fully secured. The $1 billion port reconstruction loan was negotiated with reputable foreign financing partners and international lending institutions.

We have completed the financial structuring and administrative terms. While loan servicing obligations have commenced as scheduled, the physical deployment of capital is synchronised directly with the Q3 2026 site mobilisation.

Despite various interventions, congestion around the Lagos ports remains a concern. What new measures is the NPA implementing to improve cargo evacuation and reduce delays?
To permanently resolve landside bottlenecks around the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Port Complexes, we are undertaking a major upgrade of the Electronic Call-Up System (Eto). The upgrade will tighten security integration within the Eto platform to eliminate illegal human intervention and the issuance of fraudulent call-up slips.

In addition, we have expanded barge operations to move over 30 per cent of containerised cargo via waterways directly to bonded terminals and inland depots.

Also, in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), regular freight rail operations connecting the Lagos Port Complex directly to the Kano and Kaduna Dry Ports are now active. This has significantly reduced truck density on port corridor roads and offers a more cost-effective evacuation option for port users.

How is the NPA aligning its operations with the National Single Window (NSW) initiative and other digital reforms to enhance trade facilitation and reduce the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports?
Digitalisation is the cornerstone of our strategy to eliminate procedural delays and lower the cost of doing business. The NPA has fast-tracked the full deployment of the Port Community System (PCS), which serves as the primary digital core for all maritime trade actors.

Our systems are 100 per cent designed to plug seamlessly into the Federal Government’s NSW project. This single-point filing system will consolidate customs clearance, agency inspections, and port billing. Our target is to bring down cargo clearance dwell time from double-digit days to under 48 hours, thereby making Nigerian ports more competitive and predictable.

With neighbouring countries investing heavily in their ports, what strategies is the NPA pursuing to make Nigerian ports more competitive?
To maintain Nigeria’s position as the preferred maritime hub of West and Central Africa, we are executing critical maintenance and deep-dredging campaigns to achieve draft depths of 14.5 meters to 16.5 meters across strategic channels. This will allow modern mega-container vessels to berth in Nigerian ports.

Also, following the success of the Lekki Deep Seaport, we are accelerating supervisory and regulatory support for greenfield deep seaport developments in Badagry, Cross River and Ondo states.

We are also providing clear legal frameworks and long-term investment security to global port operators and logistics investors to boost confidence in the Nigerian maritime sector.

What are the Authority’s priorities for sustaining the recent revenue growth and what should stakeholders expect over the next 12 months?
Our priorities are anchored on robust trade performance. Nigeria recorded a notable trade surplus of N7.54 trillion in Q1 of 2026 alone. We are positioned to support this momentum.

Over the next 12 months, stakeholders should expect sustained revenue remittances into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) through cost optimisation and digital billing accuracy, deployment of upgraded night-navigation aids to enable round-the-clock vessel manoeuvres across non-Lagos ports, including Onne, Calabar and Warri as well as expansion of dedicated export processing terminals (EPTs) to boost non-oil export volumes and support the Federal Government’s diversification agenda.

The World Bank rated Apapa and Tin-Can Ports amongst the world’s most improved ports. What should we do to sustain this ranking?
In the recently released World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), both Tin-Can Island Port and Apapa Port were listed among the Top 20 Most Improved Ports globally. Specifically, Tin-Can Island Port ranked 10th globally with a 42-point improvement, while Apapa Port ranked 12th with a 35-point increase.

To sustain and build on this ranking, we are mandating strict service-level agreements (SLAs) with terminal operators for crane productivity and berth throughput, standardising digital manifest processing to drastically reduce ship wait-times at anchorage and enhancing round-the-clock discharge and loading cycles to improve vessel productivity.

Many terminal operators are yet to secure their long-term port concession renewal from the NPA/FG. Is the NPA looking to grant long-term concessions to affected concessionaires, or is the agency open to new investors?
The NPA is committed to building a robust and transparent legal framework for all terminal concession renewals. As we say, “it is better to get it right than to rush into agreements that will be challenged later”.

We are currently reviewing existing contracts to resolve past unmet obligations from both parties. For existing operators who satisfy revised operational, financial, and infrastructural investment requirements, long-term concession renewals will be finalised.

Where performance benchmarks are not met or contracts lapse without agreement, the Authority remains open to competitive bidding from reputable international port management investors to guarantee optimal asset productivity.

Recently, you set up a committee on Apapa Road gridlock and extortion. What is the update on the committee activities?
The special task force set up to tackle gridlock and extortion on the Apapa port corridors has recorded significant breakthroughs. Over 1,500 illegally parked trucks and unauthorised checkpoints along the port corridors have been dismantled.

Working alongside joint security forces, key ringleaders behind illegal tolling and paper falsification have been arrested and handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

We have also integrated digital surveillance cameras along primary access routes, including the Mile 2 and Ijora axes, to monitor traffic flow in real time and rapidly respond to deliberate disruptions.

The NPA remains unwavering in its commitment to position Nigeria as the leading maritime hub in Africa. We appreciate the continuous cooperation of our stakeholders, terminal operators, security partners, and the media as we work together to deliver a modern, efficient, and globally competitive port system.