Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, has expressed strong optimism following the Federal Government’s unveiling of a strategic roadmap that prioritises the completion of the Bakassi Deep Seaport.
The roadmap, launched under the newly introduced National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, highlights Bakassi among nine major deep seaport projects slated for fast-tracked development across Nigeria.
At the official unveiling of the policy in Lagos, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, described the initiative as a bold move to establish Nigeria as the maritime hub of West and Central Africa.
“This policy marks a new era for the sector. Our goal is to fast-track the development of key deep seaports that will fuel sustainable growth and economic transformation,” Oyetola stated.
In response, Governor Otu described the development as both timely and visionary, affirming that the Bakassi Deep Seaport remains the centrepiece of his administration’s economic strategy.
“This project is not just vital to Cross River’s industrial future; it’s a national economic asset with the potential to unlock regional prosperity and reposition Nigeria in global maritime trade,” Otu noted.
He praised the Federal Government’s foresight in harmonising national infrastructure objectives with the developmental needs of coastal states.
The Governor, however, lamented Nigeria’s current shipping challenges, noting that only 21 per cent of cargo destined for the country is delivered directly to its ports, while 79 per cent goes to neighbouring countries such as Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
He attributed this imbalance to the shallow draft and limited capacity of Nigeria’s existing ports, which are unable to accommodate larger vessels.
“The result is that cargo meant for Nigeria is rerouted through neighbouring countries and smuggled in. Essentially, all of that 79 per cent was originally Nigeria-bound. The completion of the Bakassi Deep Seaport will decisively address this maritime bottleneck,” Otu asserted.
Strategically located as a gateway to the Gulf of Guinea and a crucial trade corridor for the North, South-East, and South-South regions, the Bakassi Deep Seaport has long been viewed as a transformative infrastructure project. With renewed federal backing, stakeholders believe the port is now poised for full implementation.
The new policy also sets an ambitious 7 per cent annual growth target for Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector, leveraging the country’s over 850-kilometre coastline and vast inland waterways. Other ports earmarked for accelerated development include Badagry, Olokola, Ondo, Bonny, Burutu, Benin, Ibom, and Agge.
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These projects are expected to ease pressure on existing ports, boost regional commerce, and usher in a new era of maritime-led economic expansion.
