In a bold step to reshape Nigeria’s maritime frontier, the Federal Government has officially approved the dredging of the Lekki Deep Seaport, aiming to supercharge trade capacity and unlock the port’s full potential as a 21st-century logistics hub.
The announcement came from Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), following a high-level inspection of the seaport over the weekend. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Dantsoho reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to fully supporting the deepening of the channel to accommodate super post-Panamax vessels—massive cargo ships that promise economies of scale and reduced logistics costs.
“We are laser-focused on aligning with global best practices. Lekki Port represents the future—modern, automated, and capable of transforming Nigeria into West Africa’s premier maritime gateway,” Dantsoho declared.
The dredging approval is part of a strategic collaboration between the NPA and Lekki Port management, endorsed by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, who has been vocal in championing port modernization and marine infrastructure upgrades.
With transshipment volumes steadily rising, Lekki Port is already attracting attention across the continent. Its cutting-edge systems, deep draft capacity, and swift turnaround times are positioning it to service landlocked African nations and compete globally.
Dantsoho emphasized that the dredging initiative is closely tied to the Port Community System (PCS) and the upcoming National Single Window (NSW) platform—digital frameworks that will unify customs, logistics, and regulatory processes, eliminate bottlenecks and boost investor confidence.
“Lekki’s automated efficiency directly supports our export drive, especially for agro-allied products, as we gear up for increased trade under the AfCFTA. With competitiveness comes demand, and with demand comes more foreign exchange inflows,” he added.
The site visit was attended by a delegation of key industry leaders including Abiodun Dabiri (Chairman, Lekki Port), Qiang Wang (MD, Lekki Port), Vivian Richard-Edet (ED, Finance & Admin, NPA), and Alhaji Olabode Oyedele, among other top executives.
As Nigeria positions itself for the blue economy boom, Lekki Deep Seaport is fast becoming the flagship symbol of the country’s new maritime vision, deep, digital, and decidedly global.
