Federal Government has approved certification processes for five proposed deep seaports.

Federal Government has approved certification processes for five proposed deep seaports in the country.

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The move is aimed at halting a reported loss of over 70 per cent of cargo traffic to neighbouring countries. The proposed ports when fully operational are expected to reduce congestion and attract bigger cargo ships.

The government said the country currently loses more than 70 per cent of its import cargo to ports in countries such as Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic because many Nigerian ports are unable to handle very large vessels efficiently.

The disclosure was made by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who explained that the projects are part of efforts to reposition Nigeria as a major maritime and shipping hub in Africa.

The five proposed deep seaports approved for certification and compliance are: the Badagry Deep Sea Port in Lagos; the Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ogun/Ondo axis; the Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom; and the Bakassi Deep Sea Port in Cross River; as well as, the Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers State.

According to NPA, the approval means the projects have successfully passed important legal, regulatory and environmental stages required before full development can begin.

Deep seaports are specially designed ports with deeper water channels that can receive larger cargo ships carrying thousands of containers. Many older ports in Nigeria, especially Apapa and Tin Can ports in Lagos, face congestion and infrastructure problems, making it difficult for some international shipping companies to operate smoothly.

As a result, many ships reportedly prefer to offload goods in neighbouring countries before the cargo is later transported into Nigeria by smaller vessels or trucks. This has led to massive revenue losses for Nigeria over the years.

The Badagry Deep Sea Port is considered one of the biggest among the proposed projects and is expected to compete with some of Africa’s largest ports once completed. Authorities previously projected that the port could generate billions of dollars in revenue during its operational lifespan.

The Ibom Deep Sea Port has also been promoted as a strategic gateway for trade in West and Central Africa, while the Bakassi and Bonny projects are expected to strengthen maritime activities in the South-South region.

According to analysts, successful completion of the ports should translate into increase in customs revenue, boost in exports and reduction in dependence on foreign ports for cargo handling.