Nigeria and other countries around West and Central Africa are witnessing a fresh surge of maritime investment as large port expansion projects totaling more than $27 billion continue to reshape regional trade and logistics.
At the midyear conference of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa in Lagos, where government officials and business leaders discussed the future of regional maritime trade, the renewed focus on port development was highlighted.
The News Chronicle reports that Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the Federal Government is expanding deep seaport infrastructure and modernising existing facilities to position Nigeria as a leading maritime and logistics hub in Africa.
According to him, upgrades including channel deepening and digital reforms are expected to improve cargo movement, attract larger vessels and strengthen supply chain efficiency.
Together with ongoing investments at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, major projects attracting attention throughout the region include the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, new port construction in Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea.
Stakeholders in the sector believe that increased regional cooperation and infrastructure development would significantly improve intra-African trade, maritime security, and business opportunities related to the blue economy.
Officials further noted that improvements in port security and operations have continued to boost investor confidence across the Gulf of Guinea corridor.
