FG Endorses Lekki Deep Seaport Expansion to Boost Nigeria’s Global Trade and Economic Growth
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Federal Government has officially approved the expansion of dredging activities at the Lekki Deep Seaport to accommodate larger vessels and increasing cargo volumes, aiming to unlock the port’s full economic potential.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, confirmed the endorsement in a statement on X yesterday. He emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing port operations to strengthen the national economy.
In a recent visit to the port, Dantsoho highlighted Lekki Port’s unique ability to handle super post-panamax vessels, positioning it as a vital asset for improving Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness.
The expansion plan was also endorsed by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who commended the NPA’s partnership with Lekki Port to deepen the port’s draft and prepare for rising maritime traffic. Dantsoho further praised the port’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, noting its growing significance in regional trade, especially for landlocked West African nations.
In line with ongoing port modernization efforts, Dantsoho underlined the port’s role in accelerating the digitalization of port operations, with the upcoming roll-out of the Port Community System (PCS) and National Single Window (NSW) platform. He also highlighted Lekki Port’s potential to boost Nigeria’s export performance, particularly in agro-allied products, in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The NPA reaffirmed its full support for Lekki Port’s expansion, commending its exceptional performance and the ongoing contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth.