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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has dismissed concerns that it has abandoned Nigeria’s eastern ports, assuring stakeholders that ongoing rehabilitation and modernisation projects will restore the facilities to full operational capacity.
The Manager of the Rivers Port Complex, Kenechi Okaeze, gave the assurance during an interactive session with members of the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in Port Harcourt.
Okaeze, who represented the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the event, said the Federal Government and NPA management were committed to revitalising the Eastern Ports and improving their capacity to handle more cargo and larger vessels.
She was responding to concerns raised by maritime stakeholders over what they described as years of neglect of ports in the Eastern region.
“It is not correct to say that management has abandoned the Eastern Ports.
“As we speak, some of the structures are being rehabilitated. Management has not ignored the Eastern Ports”, she said.
According to Okaeze, significant work has already been carried out at the Rivers Port Complex, including the reconstruction and strengthening of six berths.
She said the rehabilitation was part of broader efforts to modernise the port infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and enable the facility to handle larger vessels.
Beyond the berths, Okaeze disclosed that work was also ongoing to deepen the navigation channels serving the Eastern Ports.
The deeper channels, she explained, would allow bigger vessels to access the ports, potentially increasing cargo throughput and making the facilities more attractive to shipping lines and cargo owners.
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She said improving the capacity of the Eastern Ports was particularly important because of their proximity to major commercial centres and markets in the region.
“We know the Eastern Ports have proximity to key markets, which is why the government is making consistent efforts to ensure the ports are rehabilitated and fully functional. This will allow vessels to come directly here and save the cost of transporting goods by road,” she said.
Okaeze said the revival of the ports would also reduce the pressure on Nigeria’s roads by allowing more cargo destined for the South-East and South-South regions to be delivered directly through the Eastern maritime gateway.
She noted that transporting large volumes of cargo over long distances by road not only adds to logistics costs but also creates additional safety concerns for motorists and other road users.
The Rivers Port manager said improved port infrastructure would therefore have wider economic benefits beyond the maritime sector, including reducing transportation costs, improving the movement of goods and strengthening trade within the region.
She expressed optimism that the ongoing rehabilitation programme would significantly improve activities at the Eastern Ports and enable them to reclaim their strategic role in Nigeria’s maritime economy.
The renewed focus on the Eastern Ports comes amid persistent calls by stakeholders for greater investment in the region’s maritime infrastructure to reduce congestion at major ports in Lagos and create more balanced cargo distribution across the country.
Stakeholders have also argued that fully functional Eastern Ports would support industrialisation and economic growth in the region by providing businesses with shorter and potentially cheaper routes for importing raw materials and exporting finished products.
Okaeze assured stakeholders that the government and NPA were aware of the importance of the ports and were taking steps to address the infrastructure challenges.
“I must assure you, don’t worry. Very soon, the Eastern Ports will start moving,” she said.
