A member of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Kelvin Ayebaefie Emmanuel, has urged the Federal Government to implement the construction of standard gauge rail lines and pipelines connecting the Western and Eastern maritime corridors as well as properly dredged inland waterways to facilitate cargo and tanker vessel movement to and from ports.
   
Emmanuel, who is also the Thematic Lead, Oil and Gas, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), argued that establishing critical infrastructure would position the country as a competitive player in global maritime trade.
  
Speaking at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council 2025–2029 Strategic Management Retreat in Ibadan, Oyo State, Emmanuel highlighted the challenges posed by the current state of ports and road networks, which contribute to high shipping costs discouraging producers, importers, and exporters. 
  
He revealed that 80 per cent of vessels arriving in Nigeria return empty, making shipping costs 2.2 times higher than in most other regions. Emmanuel also noted the security risks, high Goods-in-Transit (GIT) premiums, and lack of cold storage facilities for perishable goods associated with road haulage, all of which undermine Nigeria’s export competitiveness.
   
He underscored the necessity of developing local steel beneficiation plants to process high-grade iron ore for rail construction. He criticised Nigeria’s reliance on imported steel, citing the naira’s 92 per cent depreciation over the past decade as a key challenge.  He proposed setting up steel plants near ports to process ore from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Conakry while exploring deposits in Enugu and Anambra.
   
Emmanuel also criticised the location of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, which, he said, contains only 30 per cent iron ore concentrate, calling it a politically motivated decision.

Developing a robust steel industry, he argued, is critical to achieving self-sufficiency in rail construction and other infrastructure projects. He also advocated for the revival of Nigeria’s inland waterways and maritime corridors to enhance economic development and trade efficiency, referring to the Inland River Roads Masterplan developed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in collaboration with Royal Haskoning of the Netherlands. The plan aimed to connect Nigeria’s Eastern and Western maritime corridors via waterways.
   
Emmanuel cited historical examples, such as Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) use of barges to transport coal from Calabar via the Nun River to Ijora, demonstrating the potential of inland waterways for efficient goods movement.
  
To realise this potential, Emmanuel called for Federal Executive Council (FEC) funding approval for capital and maintenance dredging of the River Benue, River Niger, and their tributaries. 
   
These efforts, he said, would reduce reliance on overburdened federal roads and serve as cost-effective alternatives for goods transportation. Emmanuel identified the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as a key stakeholder in driving maritime sector reform, urging the council to provide policy guidance, strategic advice, and maritime frameworks to facilitate the importation of raw materials and infrastructure-related products, positioning the country competitively in regional and global markets.
   
The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Pius Akutah, highlighted the urgent need to address container shortages for exports. He noted that Nigeria has surplus export products but lacks containers to transport them efficiently.