The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said nearly 300 commercial disputes have been resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution as part of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Oyetola also said port modernisation remains central to the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, with major investments and reforms aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
The Minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, disclosed this in a statement detailing Oyetola’s three-year scorecard.
According to Oyetola, the Federal Government has implemented a comprehensive programme to modernise major seaports, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri ports.
“The programme includes channel improvements, modern cargo-handling infrastructure and increased digitisation of terminal operations, with the objective of improving efficiency and positioning Nigerian ports to handle larger volumes of international trade,” he said.
He added that the reforms had received international recognition, with the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence ranking Tin Can Island Port 10th and Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, 12th among the world’s 20 most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.
Oyetola said the government had also made progress in tackling congestion around the Apapa port corridor through the electronic truck call-up system, dedicated holding bays and expanded inland barging.
He added that the acquisition of modern tugboats, pilot cutters and dredging equipment by the Nigerian Ports Authority had further strengthened port operations.
“We have moved from managing congestion to building a port system that can compete globally,” the Minister said.
The Federal Government is also pursuing deep-seaport projects in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, Lagos and Rivers states to expand Nigeria’s port capacity.
Oyetola said the operationalisation of Inland Dry Ports, including the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State, would bring cargo handling and clearance services closer to businesses in the hinterland while reducing pressure on coastal ports.
He added that regulatory reforms had also produced significant benefits for port users.
According to him, the new Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Authority framework is expected to strengthen economic regulation, while interventions by the Ministry and its agencies have saved port users more than ₦86 billion in unjustified demurrage.
Oyetola said the government had also introduced measures to eliminate unauthorised shipping charges and strengthen freight and foreign-exchange verification to reduce leakages and curb capital flight.
He said maritime security had also improved significantly, with Nigeria maintaining zero piracy in its territorial waters for four consecutive years.
The achievement, he said, was supported by security assets deployed under the Deep Blue Project and had helped eliminate costly piracy-related surcharges on vessels calling at Nigerian ports.
According to the Minister, the security gains have further strengthened Nigeria’s reputation as a safer and more competitive maritime corridor
