Efficient ports key to unlocking Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones, says NPA MD
By Eberechi Obinagwam
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that efficient and modern port infrastructure is what Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) needs to unlock its full potential, stressing that seamless logistics, connectivity and operational efficiency will determine their success.
According to the NPA, optimising port infrastructure would not only strengthen the competitiveness of SEZs but also accelerate industrialisation, boost exports, attract investment and advance Nigeria’s blue economy agenda.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, stated this at the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) 2026 Annual Conference at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Speaking on the theme, “Optimising Port Infrastructure to Unlock the Full Potential of Special Economic Zones in Nigeria,” Dantsoho, who was represented by the Port Manager, Rivers Port Complex, Mrs Kenechi Okezie, said while investment incentives and favourable regulations could attract investors, efficient infrastructure, particularly ports, was what sustained investment and drove long-term economic growth.
“A Special Economic Zone without an efficient port system is much like an airport without a runway: the vision may be compelling, but its potential can never be realised.”
The NPA boss explained that ports should no longer be viewed merely as locations where ships berth, but as strategic national assets capable of stimulating manufacturing, supporting exports, expanding trade and creating employment.
He noted that efficient ports remain central to the success of a sustainable blue economy, explaining that improved port operations stimulate trade, which in turn drives industrial growth, job creation and improved livelihoods.
Dantsoho said the NPA was pursuing a coordinated strategy to optimise port infrastructure through the rehabilitation and modernisation of port facilities, continuous channel maintenance, digital transformation, multimodal transport connectivity, public-private partnerships and stronger institutional collaboration.
He said the Authority was advancing the Port Community System as a critical step towards the National Single Window initiative to reduce cargo clearance time, improve transparency and enhance trade facilitation.
The NPA boss also underscored the importance of integrating ports with roads, rail lines and inland waterways to improve cargo evacuation, while highlighting the strategic role of Inland Dry Ports in extending port services to inland industrial clusters and Special Economic Zones.
He cited the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a successful example of public-private partnership, noting that such collaborations were essential for expanding port capacity, strengthening supply chains and supporting export-oriented industrialisation.
While acknowledging the progress made, Dantsoho stressed that continuous investment, innovation and stakeholder collaboration remained essential to reposition Nigerian ports as preferred gateways for regional trade.
“When our ports become more efficient, our industries become more competitive; when our industries become more competitive, investment grows; and when investment grows, jobs are created, exports expand, and national prosperity follows.”
He called on government, private sector operators, investors, development partners and the media to work together to build a port system that supports Special Economic Zones, powers the blue economy and drives Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.
