The Federal Government has approved the maintenance dredging of the Lekki Deep Seaport channel, marking a significant step toward enhancing Nigeria’s position as a key maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The approval will see the channel deepened from its current depth of 16.5 metres to 17 metres initially, with a long-term target of 19 metres. The dredging project, to be executed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), is part of a strategic move to accommodate larger vessels, improve cargo turnaround time, and increase the port’s transshipment capacity.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the initiative would make Lekki Port more competitive and position Nigeria as a transshipment destination for neighbouring landlocked countries.
“With this dredging project, Lekki Deep Seaport will now be able to receive larger vessels that couldn’t berth at our existing ports. This will significantly reduce turnaround time, lower freight costs, and increase our competitiveness in international trade,” he said.
Bello-Koko also noted that the move was part of broader reforms to improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business at its seaports.
“Lekki Port is already equipped with state-of-the-art cargo handling infrastructure, and with the dredging, it will now integrate more seamlessly into our National Single Window framework,” he added.
He further stated that the decision to increase the channel depth followed extensive consultations with industry stakeholders and feasibility assessments that confirmed the commercial viability of the project.
The Lekki Deep Seaport, a $1.5 billion project, is Nigeria’s first fully automated port and is expected to significantly improve cargo processing efficiency. It is designed to handle over 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually and serve as a regional maritime hub.
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Industry stakeholders have hailed the approval as a game changer for Nigeria’s maritime industry. According to the President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Aminu Umar:
“This move will have a multiplier effect on our economy. It will boost exports, particularly for agro-allied products, and attract more shipping lines to Nigerian waters.”
The Federal Government also expects the increased transshipment capacity to support economic integration across the continent and generate substantial foreign exchange earnings through port operations and logistics services.
With the dredging project set to begin soon, the NPA has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the execution phase.
