NPA unveils plan to revive Delta Ports

Asaba, Delta – The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced an ambitious plan to revitalize the Delta Ports, comprising Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu, as a strategic move to bolster Nigeria’s economy and alleviate chronic congestion at Lagos ports.

The announcement came during a recent four-day working tour led by NPA Board Chairman, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, which included high-level meetings with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, traditional rulers, and key port stakeholders.

The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s port infrastructure to drive economic growth and job creation.

Senator Adeyeye emphasized that reviving the Delta Ports would unlock their potential as strategic gateways for trade, reduce logistics costs, and create employment opportunities for local communities.

“This Board will ensure that the Ports in Delta are fully operational for the economic prosperity of the nation as well as job creation,” Adeyeye stated during the tour.

A critical component of the revival plan addresses the longstanding issue of shallow draught and siltation, which has hindered larger vessels from accessing Delta Ports.

To tackle this, the NPA announced the establishment of a Delta Channeling Management Company, modeled after similar entities in Lagos and Calabar, to oversee year-round dredging and ensure navigable waterways.

Stakeholders, including the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I, and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, highlighted the need for urgent dredging of the Escravos Bar and River Niger, noting that viable ports could attract business from landlocked neighbors like Chad and Niger Republic.

Governor Oborevwori, during a courtesy visit by the NPA Board in Asaba, urged the Federal Government to prioritize the rehabilitation of Warri and Koko port facilities and the dredging of the Warri Channel.

“Delta State is strategically blessed with four seaports. If these ports are revived, they will create massive employment, stimulate trade, and strengthen the economy of Delta and Nigeria,” he said.

He emphasized that modernizing existing ports is often more impactful than building new ones and pledged the state’s collaboration with the Federal Government to ensure the project’s success.

The NPA’s tour also revealed challenges such as underutilization, collapsed quays, and the absence of a deep seaport, which limits Delta Ports’ capacity to handle global shipping traffic.

Adeyeye commended Delta State’s efforts in maintaining security around the ports, a crucial factor for sustaining operations, and called for public-private partnerships to develop a deep seaport to enhance the region’s maritime potential.

Local stakeholders echoed the call for action, urging the harmonization of tariffs across Nigeria’s ports and the redirection of inland-bound cargo from Lagos to Delta to reduce congestion and logistics costs.

The Orodje of Okpe noted the historical significance of Delta Ports, referencing the first port established in the region by Portuguese explorers in 1472, and stressed that revitalization is essential for Nigeria’s marine and blue economy ambitions.

“It costs more to offload in Nigeria than in Togo. That must change,” he added.

The NPA’s initiative is part of a broader effort to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector, with recent reforms boosting port revenues from $226 million in 2022 to $314 million in 2023.

The revival of Delta Ports is expected to complement the success of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which has already processed significant transshipment cargo since its opening in 2023, and further establish Nigeria as a maritime hub in West Africa.

As the NPA moves forward with its plans, the collaboration between federal and state governments, alongside private sector involvement, will be critical to overcoming infrastructural challenges and unlocking the economic potential of Delta Ports.

The initiative promises not only to decongest Lagos but also to drive sustainable growth, create jobs, and position Delta State as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s maritime economy.