{
  "id": 14344071,
  "title": "THE CASE FOR UNDERUTILISED SEAPORTS",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/the-case-for-underutilised-seaports",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T01:45:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/14/the-case-for-underutilised-seaports/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On 24 September, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Paris between DP World, a private port operator, and the Ogun State Government. The agreement aims to develop the Gateway Deep Seaport and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, attracting initial investments surpassing $7 billion and generating over 50,000 direct jobs with full development. The Gateway Deep Sea Port will host a 4-kilometre berth and 18-metre draft, facilitating the handling of colossal vessels. Meanwhile, the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone is projected to cover more than 10,000 hectares, accommodating diverse multi-sectoral enterprises engaged in manufacturing, processing, and export operations.\n\nHowever, critics argue the agreement may lead to a geographical concentration of maritime infrastructure and activities in the South-West. Lagos, already home to key ports like Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Lekki, is under scrutiny for its traffic congestion and high haulage costs. Meanwhile, natural ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Onne, Sapele, and Warri have been overlooked in favor of expanding Lagos' ports. In response, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, announced that four ports outside Lagos have received approval for upgrades while six new deep seaports would be established nationwide. These include ports in Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo, and Bonny.\n\nThe Lagos ports' chronic congestion has inflated logistics costs and diminished Nigeria's maritime sector competitiveness, as reported by Dynanmar. This inefficiency has allowed neighboring nations like Benin Republic to benefit from Nigeria's shortcomings. Maritime lawyer Olisa Agbakoba highlighted that 80% of containers heading to Nigeria never arrive due to poor infrastructure. Despite the federal government's efforts to improve business conditions, Nigerian ports remain among the worst in sub-Saharan Africa. The gridlock, corruption, inefficiency, and collapse of traffic management systems at Apapa and Tin Can ports have persisted despite the recent implementation of the electronic call-up system. Consequently, ships opting to dock at neighbouring ports such as Cotonou, Tema, and Lome have become increasingly common. With decades of unfulfilled potential, the federal government appears committed to decentralising the country's seaports, transforming waterways into commercial corridors. The Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos, a showcase for modernization, has already attracted over $20 billion in investments, exemplifying the potential for replication. To effectively trade and halt the current economic bleeding, underutilized seaports hold immense capacity to enhance national revenue and GDP.",
  "summary": "More functional seaports will enhance the economy On 24 September in Paris, the French capital, a Memorandum of Understanding between DP World, a private port operator, and the Ogun State",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}