Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar Ports Set for Comprehensive Modernisation to Boost Trade and Regional Connectivity.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — September 29, 2026
The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of four major ports in Nigeria’s South-South region — Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports — in a move aimed at expanding the country’s maritime capacity and improving the efficiency of cargo movement.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the approval, describing it as part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to develop a more balanced and efficient national port system.
According to the Minister, the approval complements the earlier Federal Government decision to modernise and upgrade Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, with the expansion of the programme to the South-South designed to create additional gateways for international trade and reduce the concentration of cargo traffic around Lagos.
Oyetola said the upgraded ports are expected to improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times, strengthen regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.
The four ports, he noted, occupy strategic positions in Nigeria’s trade, industrial and regional development and therefore require modern infrastructure capable of supporting the demands of a growing economy.
The Federal Government said the initiative forms part of a broader expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, alongside plans for the development of proposed deep-sea ports including Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny.
The Minister further outlined a vision of an integrated maritime and logistics system in which ports, roads, railways, inland waterways and other transport infrastructure work together to facilitate the seamless movement of goods across the country.
The development is also significant for the South-South region, where stakeholders have for years called for improved port infrastructure, particularly the rehabilitation and increased utilisation of facilities such as Calabar and Delta ports.
The Federal Government said it will work with state governments, terminal operators, investors, shipping companies and other stakeholders to ensure that the modernisation programme delivers measurable improvements across Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
The approval comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to expand maritime infrastructure, facilitate trade, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional logistics and maritime hub.
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