THE Federal Government (FG) has officially endorsed the expansion of dredging activities at the Lekki Deep Seaport to accommodate larger vessels and increasing cargo volumes.
This was confirmed by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, in a statement shared via X yesterday.
He noted that the NPA is committed to providing full support to unlock the port’s economic potential and maximize economies of scale.
During a strategic visit to the port on Saturday, Dantsoho emphasized the government’s resolve to strengthen the national economy through modernized port operations.
He highlighted Lekki Port’s unique capacity to handle super post-panamax vessels as a major advantage.
“This administration is focused on leveraging Lekki Port’s capabilities to boost the national economy and improve global trade competitiveness,” Dantsoho stated.
The announcement follows an endorsement by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of the partnership between the NPA and Lekki Port to deepen the port’s draft in preparation for rising maritime traffic.
Dantsoho further lauded the port’s cutting-edge infrastructure and equipment, describing Lekki Port as a benchmark for the NPA’s ongoing port modernization programme. He also noted the port’s growing role in regional trade, particularly in serving landlocked West African nations.
“The port’s fully automated systems align with our drive to digitize operations across all ports. With Minister Oyetola’s leadership, we’re accelerating the rollout of the Port Community System (PCS) ahead of the National Single Window (NSW) platform,” he added.
Highlighting its quick turnaround capabilities, Dantsoho said the port’s advanced features will significantly improve Nigeria’s export performance, particularly for agro-allied products, as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) progresses.
“Increased efficiency will drive export competitiveness, boost demand, and enhance foreign exchange inflows,” he explained.
“We commend the Lekki Port team for maintaining exceptional performance and reaffirm the NPA’s full commitment to supporting the port’s growth.”
Present at the visit were Board Chairman of Lekki Port, Abiodun Dabiri; Managing Director, Qiang Wang; NPA’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Vivian Richard-Edet; Director of Lekki Port, Alhaji Olabode Oyedele, and other top officials.