Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation and expansion of Nigeria’s eastern ports to boost economic activities and reduce congestion at the Lagos ports.
Afolabi made the appeal while receiving the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, at the SIFAX Group headquarters in Lagos.
According to him, years of inadequate attention to eastern ports have negatively affected Nigeria’s overall port efficiency and placed excessive pressure on facilities in Lagos.
He noted that economic activities at the nation’s ports have continued to increase annually, with the bulk of the traffic concentrated in Lagos. This, he said, has stretched existing infrastructure beyond its capacity and contributed to recurring congestion.
Afolabi urged the government to extend its ongoing port modernisation programme to the eastern corridor in order to create a more balanced and efficient maritime sector.
He specifically called for the dredging of key eastern ports, including Warri, Onne and Calabar, to enable larger vessels to berth safely and facilitate increased cargo traffic.
According to him, developing these ports would reduce the burden on Lagos facilities and create new opportunities for trade and investment across the region.
The SIFAX Group chairman also highlighted the persistent challenges along the Tincan Island Port corridor. He said the route has struggled for years under traffic volumes far beyond what it was originally designed to handle.
He added that the recurring gridlock in the area has increased business costs, frustrated transport operators and slowed economic activities linked to port operations.
Speaking during the visit, Ukeyima commended Afolabi and SIFAX Group for their contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He described the company as one of the country’s leading maritime investors and praised its role in leveraging opportunities across the maritime value chain to support economic development.
The Nigerian Shippers Council boss also pledged continued collaboration with SIFAX Group and other stakeholders to promote growth and improve efficiency within the maritime industry.
Stakeholders believe that expanding and modernising eastern ports could help unlock new economic opportunities, improve cargo distribution and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub.
