The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has projected strong growth in cargo throughput and revenue following BUA Group’s $85 million (about ₦116.02 billion) investment to expand its port and terminal facilities in Port Harcourt.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, made the projection on Thursday in Lagos while receiving the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, during a courtesy visit to the authority’s headquarters.
According to Dantsoho, the investment represents a significant boost to Nigeria’s maritime sector and will enhance trade activities, particularly across the country’s eastern ports.
He said the expansion would increase cargo volumes, improve port efficiency, generate additional revenue for the government and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian ports within West Africa and beyond.
“BUA has been a major stakeholder for many years. What we are doing is collaborating with both major and smaller stakeholders, especially in expanding activities in the eastern ports,” Dantsoho said.
He noted that BUA’s continued investments in Lagos and now Port Harcourt would help distribute economic activity more evenly across Nigeria’s port system.
“We need Nigeria’s port system to become more balanced. BUA has invested heavily in Lagos and is now making substantial investments in Port Harcourt. This means more imports, more exports, increased cargo volumes and ultimately greater economic value for the country,” he stated.
The NPA Managing Director also commended President Bola Tinubu for encouraging stronger collaboration between the authority and private sector investors to modernise Nigeria’s ports and improve their competitiveness.
“I appreciate Mr. President for encouraging us as management to collaborate closely with stakeholders like BUA and others so that the Nigerian Ports Authority can become a stronger player not only in West Africa but across the African continent,” he said.
Dantsoho expressed optimism that the new investment would translate into significant increases in cargo traffic and revenue generation.
“We expect to have more cargo volumes. Once volumes increase, value also increases, leading to more dollar and naira earnings, which is exactly what the government expects from us,” he explained.
He projected that the investment could drive annual cargo growth of between 13 and 14 per cent, describing the anticipated increase as a remarkable achievement for Nigeria’s port industry.
“On a normal day, 16 per cent growth is considered strong in the global port industry. With this kind of development, achieving 13 to 14 per cent growth would be a fantastic outcome,” Dantsoho added.
The NPA boss also highlighted recent international recognition received by Nigerian ports, noting that Apapa and Tin Can Island ports were recently listed among the world’s 20 most improved ports by S&P Global and the World Bank.
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According to him, such achievements are the result of closer cooperation between the authority and private sector investors.
“We cannot achieve these milestones as the NPA alone. We need continuous collaboration with investors, and they also understand the importance of working with us. That partnership is what will drive sustained progress,” he said.
The ongoing expansion project is expected to add approximately 600 metres of quay frontage to BUA’s Port Harcourt terminal, significantly increasing its cargo-handling capacity.
The additional infrastructure will enable the company to handle higher import volumes while supporting its wider industrial expansion strategy and contributing to improved logistics efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Industry stakeholders believe the investment could further strengthen the role of eastern ports in reducing congestion at Lagos ports, promoting regional trade and supporting Nigeria’s broader economic diversification agenda.