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Stakeholders across Nigeria’s maritime value chain have told the federal government to urgently fix the rail system, power and deepen digitisation if their dream of having smart and globally-competitive ports can ever come to fruition.
They made the assertion at the 6th JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall in Lagos, at the weekend, where they warned that fragmented logistics, erratic power and weak tech infrastructure remain the biggest roadblocks to port efficiency and trade expansion.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Inland Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL), Omotayo Dada, was unequivocal on the centrality of rail-linked logistics and inland cargo systems. He argued that smart ports cannot exist in isolation from Inland Dry Ports, stressing that connectivity and cargo visibility are non-negotiable.
“If we are having a smart port that has not successfully integrated the seaport to the Inland Dry Port through rail, through cargo visibility, then we have not started that Inland Dry Port model is open for business.”
Dada highlighted the growing relevance of inland cargo hubs, noting that the Kaduna Inland Dry Port handled about 8,320 TEUs in the past year. Despite this progress, he said utilisation remains far below capacity, calling for stronger collaboration to scale operations and ease pressure on Lagos ports.
Maritime expert and former Nigerian Ports Authority General Manager, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, expanded the conversation beyond efficiency, urging a parallel shift toward environmental sustainability.
He said future-ready ports must combine digital intelligence with green energy, aligning with global standards championed by international maritime regulators.
Ports of the future, he noted, will increasingly require vessels to switch off onboard generators and connect to shore-based clean energy systems.
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Ebubeogu also stressed the importance of marine operational systems such as Vessel Traffic Services and electronic harbour management, alongside a Port Marine Information System to boost safety and coordination.
On the logistics front, the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) linked rising haulage costs to surging diesel prices, currently around N2,000 per litre. Represented by Adesina Ajibola, the group said pricing remains survival-driven.
A drop in diesel prices to N960–N1,000 per litre, he noted, could pull trucking rates down to N200,000–N300,000.
Ajibola warned that without proper planning, congestion could simply migrate from Lagos ports to inland facilities. He disclosed ongoing plans for a PPP-backed smart truck park, fleet renewal, and a digital haulage platform to modernise operations.
Adding a cross-sector perspective, Ubong Essien, founder of Blue Economy TV, underscored the urgency of reliable electricity and telecom infrastructure.
“If a single institution can face such digital constraints, the implications would be even greater within the complex port ecosystem.”
He called for deeper collaboration across power, technology, and finance sectors, stressing that without stable electricity and connectivity, smart port systems would remain aspirational.
Across the board, the message was clear: Nigeria’s maritime future hinges not just on ambition, but on coordinated execution across rail, energy, and digital systems.
