Wednesday, 10th December; 2025 —The House of Representatives, following a motion sponsored by Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, has resolved to vigorously support the recent policy by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to strategically transfer specific operational activities from the congested Lagos and Tin Can Island Ports to the underutilized Delta Ports located in Warri, Koko, Burutu, and Sapele.
The legislative action underscores a national commitment to address chronic congestion, reduce logistics bottlenecks, and diversify Nigeria’s economic assets by fostering balanced regional maritime development.
Key Rationale for Decentralization
The House noted that the existing over-concentration of maritime activities in Lagos has led to several critical national challenges:
- Chronic Congestion and Logistics Bottlenecks: Resulting in severe gridlocks, delayed cargo clearance, and significant logistical strains for businesses nationwide.
- High Operational Costs: Excessive demurrage and port charges, contributing to higher costs of goods and national economic losses.
- Regional Imbalance: An over-reliance on one maritime corridor despite the presence of viable, rehabilitated, and strategically located alternatives.
The Potential of Delta Ports
The resolution acknowledges significant recent improvements and the intrinsic capacity of the Delta Ports:
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Improvements include the dredging of the Warri/Escravos Channel, rehabilitation of quay walls, vessel traffic system (VTS) upgrades, and the procurement of new handling equipment.
- Strategic Proximity: The ports of Warri, Koko, Burutu, and Sapele possess significant maritime capacity and offer strategic proximity to major industrial and commercial clusters across the Southeast, South-South, and North-Central zones, offering a faster and more cost-effective trade route for these regions.
- Economic Impact: A strategic redistribution of port activities is recognized as a catalyst to stimulate local economies, create employment opportunities, and attract vital investment flows, thereby improving Nigeria’s overall competitiveness in global trade.
House Resolutions and Mandates
To ensure the successful and sustainable implementation of this vital national policy, the House of Representatives has resolved as follows:
- Complementary Investments: Urge the Federal Government to provide full support for the redistribution policy through complementary investments in critical multi-modal infrastructure, including rail, inland waterways, and road connectivity, to effectively link the various Delta Ports to major trade and industrial zones across the country.
- Expedited Decentralization: Also urge the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to move swiftly to expedite the decentralization and optimization of national port operations. This must be executed by relocating designated operations from Lagos to Warri, Koko, Burutu, and Sapele Ports under a structured, phased, and data-driven framework consistent with global best practices in port planning and maritime logistics.
- Legislative Oversight: Mandate the Committee on Ports and Harbours to ensure strict compliance with these resolutions and to report back to the House within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
This motion is a proactive step toward fully leveraging Nigeria’s extensive maritime potential, achieving equitable regional development, and repositioning the nation as a competitive and efficient maritime hub in the West African sub-region.
