By Seun Ibiyemi
Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation, dredging and expansion of Nigeria’s eastern ports as part of efforts to improve port efficiency, stimulate economic activities and reduce congestion at the Lagos ports.
Afolabi made the appeal while receiving the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, during a visit to SIFAX Group’s headquarters in Lagos.
According to him, years of inadequate attention to eastern ports have adversely affected the nation’s maritime sector, resulting in excessive pressure on Lagos ports, which currently handle the bulk of cargo traffic in the country.
He noted that economic activities at Nigerian ports continue to increase annually, with most of the traffic concentrated in Lagos, stretching existing facilities beyond their intended capacity.
“My passionate appeal to the government is to extend the port modernisation initiative to the eastern ports. As you can see, economic activities at the ports are increasing year on year,” Afolabi said.
“The concentration of these activities is predominantly at the Lagos ports, and the facilities at these ports have been stretched to their limits, thereby leading to congestion, which will ultimately impact port efficiency.”
The maritime investor stressed that revitalising eastern ports would create alternative gateways for cargo movement and reduce the operational burden on Lagos facilities.
He specifically urged the government to dredge key eastern ports, including Warri, Onne and Calabar, to enable them to accommodate larger vessels safely and attract more shipping traffic.
“This is the time for the government to resuscitate those ports in the eastern part of Nigeria. For instance, government needs to dredge the Warri, Onne and Calabar ports so that large vessels can berth there safely and reduce the pressure on the Lagos ports,” he added.
Afolabi also highlighted the persistent traffic congestion along the Tin Can Island Port corridor, describing it as a major challenge for businesses and logistics operators.
According to him, the corridor has struggled for years under traffic volumes far beyond its original design capacity, resulting in delays, increased costs for businesses and reduced efficiency across the supply chain.
In his response, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, commended Afolabi and SIFAX Group for their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
He described SIFAX Group as one of the country’s foremost maritime investors, noting that the company has successfully leveraged opportunities across the maritime value chain to contribute significantly to national economic growth.
Ukeyima assured the company of the Council’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to drive reforms and improve the performance of the maritime sector.
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He added that stronger partnerships between government agencies and private sector operators would be critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s ports and enhancing the competitiveness of the country’s maritime industry.
