Market News

 By : Adaku Onyenucheya

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has expressed concern that Nigeria currently receives only smaller feeder vessels from larger container ships with capacities of 16,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) that dock at ports in Ghana and Togo, a situation that threatens to remove Nigeria in the global shipping business route.

The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, lamented that larger vessels carrying 16,000 TEUs increasingly dock at ports in Ghana and Togo, from where smaller ships transporting 3,000 to 4,000 containers are dispatched to Nigeria.

Dantsoho emphasised that Nigeria must not allow its ports to be relegated to serving only local shipping routes, warning that continued reliance on smaller vessels from neighbouring countries like Ghana, Togo and Cotonou would diminish Nigeria’s position in global maritime trade.

He cautioned that if this trend persists, Nigeria risks being eliminated from major shipping routes, stressing the need to attract both regional and international maritime traffic.

The NPA boss noted that countries with the greatest advantage are those servicing both regional and international shipping routes, and reaffirmed that Nigeria must urgently reposition itself to maintain and expand its influence in the sector.

“If you look at it clearly, most of the cargo brought to Ghana, Lome, or Cotonou is meant for Nigeria. On my last visit to Apapa, I went to APMT where four vessels were docked, all of them small vessels carrying between 3,000 and 4,000 containers. I asked where these vessels came from, and they said all four were from Tema, Ghana.

“The vessel that brought the cargo to Ghana could carry 16,000 TEUs. This means Ghana is receiving the bigger vessels and then pushing smaller vessels to Nigeria. If that continues for a long time, Nigeria will be eliminated from the shipping business,” he said.

Dantsoho stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to compete effectively with neighbouring ports in Tema, Lomé and Cotonou, which have captured significant maritime traffic at Nigeria’s expense.

He acknowledged the critical challenges facing Nigerian ports, highlighting the need for improved operational efficiency across the entire port ecosystem, from ship-side services to terminal operations and gate management.

The NPA boss also pointed to severe equipment shortages, particularly the lack of high-capacity tugboats needed for deep-sea operations, such as those required to service the Dangote Refinery.

According to him, the NPA faces a deficit of at least 13 tugboats, noting that until recently, operations were limited to harbour activities requiring only a few hours of tug support.

Citing the Dangote Refinery’s offshore operations, Dantsoho revealed that the Authority’s current tugboats, designed for short harbour work, are inadequate for deep-sea tasks that require over 30 hours of continuous operation.

He disclosed that plans are underway to procure new equipment, with the full backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Dantsoho also noted that greenfield seaport projects in areas such as Badagry Ibom, and Bakassi are also being considered to complement the modernisation drive, once sufficient capital investment is secured.

Despite the challenges, Dantsoho expressed optimism that with strong Federal Government support and coordinated stakeholder collaboration, Nigeria will soon reclaim its position as West Africa’s foremost maritime hub.

Recognising a skills gap compared to regional competitors, Dantsoho added that the NPA is prioritising the training and certification of critical personnel, such as pilots and operators of navigational aids like the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) systems.

“We are benchmarking against global giants such as APM Terminals and MSC, who bring world-class practices to Nigerian ports. We must equip our people to match these standards,” Dantsoho said.

He also cited successful initiatives such as the one-stop-shop for Dangote Refinery marine services, the ETO electronic truck call-up system, and the expansion of barge operations for inland container movement, all aimed at reducing congestion and improving turnaround times at Nigerian ports.