The Federal Government’s N854 million budgetary allocations for ongoing river ports projects in the 2026 Appropriation Bill have
renewed concern over execution gaps and an unclear operational framework for inland ports.

Details of the budget include N84 million allocated for the construction of an inland river port at Oguta, Imo state, listed as an ongoing project, N280 million allocated for the design and construction of Makurdi
River Port facilities, also an ongoing project.

Also, N490 million is proposed for the construction of an inland river port and the supply of cargo handling equipment at Lokoja. The Federal Government’s N17.36 billion river port projects across the country remain inactive after 15 years since they were initiated.

While some river ports have been completed, they remain non-operational due to poor road connectivity,
inadequate equipment and poor
funding for dredging and infrastructure development, while others are still unfinished years after
construction began.

Oguta River Port in Imo state, awarded in 2009 for N2.74 billion, is 61 per cent complete, while the Lokoja River Port in Kogi state, which was awarded in 2012 for N6.4 billion, is at 56 per cent completion. A former Acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed
Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Kayode Farinto, said the core problem is that the river ports are restricted to
their immediate localities instead of being opened up for national economic use.

Farinto said the ports are centralised and poorly integrated into the national logistics system, adding that excuses are often given
whenever concerns are raised about their poor performance.

He further blamed the Federal Government for the situation, recalling that substantial investments were made in river ports during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, particularly in the eastern part of the
country.

According to him, the optimism that followed those projects quickly faded as activities slowed and eventually stalled. Offering another perspective, a member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Ndubem Elias, said the continued inactivity of river ports undermines freight forwarding operations across inland waterways and poses significant constraints on the cost efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria’s logistics sector.

Elias stressed that river ports should be integrated into national supply chains with supportive policies and private‑sector partnerships to unlock their potential and reduce pressure on seaports.

He added that projects such as Lokoja, Oguta and Makurdi river ports, as well as the nationwide wreck removal programme, are critical to improving inland navigation but warned that delays in completion and operation could undermine the broader blue economy agenda.

He noted that while the inclusion of multiple river port projects and waterways interventions in the 2026 budget signals sustained government interest, the real challenge lies in implementation.