The Federal Government has approved the maintenance dredging of the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport channel, deepening it from its current 16.5 metres to 17 metres in the first phase, with a long-term goal of achieving a 19-metre depth.
This landmark approval, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading transshipment hub in West Africa, was announced at the weekend by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, during his maiden visit to Lekki Port.
During the visit, Dantsoho, accompanied by senior NPA officials, commended the performance of Lekki Port and urged its management to consolidate on the rising transshipment volumes, especially in servicing landlocked neighbouring countries.
He noted that the port’s growing throughput volume signals a transformative shift in Nigeria’s maritime logistics and export competitiveness.
He stated, “The rise in throughput volume at Lekki Port is exciting to us. Lekki’s capacity to berth super post-Panamax vessels and deliver rapid cargo and vessel turnaround is a game-changer for Nigeria’s export competitiveness, particularly for agro-allied products, as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains traction.”
According to the NPA boss, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, under the leadership of Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, secured the Federal Executive Council’s approval for the dredging.
He said NPA has already signed a strategic partnership agreement with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to execute the dredging project in a bid to enhance trade facilitation and strengthen Nigeria’s global shipping footprint.
“We have been discussing this for almost three years. Finally, with the support of the Federal Government and the leadership of the Honourable Minister, we are ready to deepen the channel. This shows our commitment to improving port efficiency and our readiness to support Lekki Port’s role in growing Nigeria’s trade volume,” Dantsoho said.
He also highlighted the port’s advanced technological infrastructure, praising it as a benchmark for modern ports in Nigeria. Lekki Port, he said, is already compliant with key technology requirements needed for the deployment of the Port Community System, which will serve as a foundation for integration into the long-anticipated National Single Window platform.
He revealed that the NPA has awarded the contract for a comprehensive hydrographic survey of the Lekki channel, a critical step towards enhancing navigational safety and optimising channel management in line with international maritime standards.
Responding to Lekki Port’s appeal for a reduction in ship dues, Dantsoho acknowledged the need to balance port affordability with sustainability. He explained that many of NPA’s operational tools, including buoys and tugboats, are procured in foreign currency, and the authority must retain sufficient revenue to maintain high service standards and staff remuneration.
However, he assured that with the full deployment of the National Single Window — which is expected to digitise 95 percent of port processes — revenues will increase and unreceipted payments will be curbed.
“Once electronic transactions take full effect, we expect a significant revenue boost, and at that point, NPA can revisit the issue of ship dues reduction,” he said.
Dantsoho also commended the management of Lekki Deep Seaport for sustaining its impressive operational performance and assured continued support from the NPA to unlock the port’s full potential.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Lekki Port, Wang Qiang, presented several policy requests to enhance operational efficiency. These included a review of the tariff structure to reflect inflation and service costs, a reduction in ship dues for large vessels and feeder ships, and the provision of night pilotage services to enable 24/7 port operations.
Following the port visit, the NPA MD also toured the $19.5 billion Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery, where he met with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote. The visit is seen as part of broader efforts to align Nigeria’s port development with the nation’s growing industrial capacity.
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