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Nigeria Pushes Port Expansion Drive to Dominate Regional Trade – Oyetola
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By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria has set its sights on becoming the dominant trade and logistics hub in West and Central Africa, with plans underway to expand port capacity and overhaul key aspects of the maritime sector.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, outlined the government’s direction while declaring open the mid-year session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme, “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development”, on Monday in Lagos.
The Minister said fresh approvals had been granted for new deep seaports across the country, aimed at boosting infrastructure and strengthening supply chains.
He said: “Approvals have therefore been granted for the development of additional deep seaports across the country to complement existing infrastructure, strengthen supply chain resilience, and reinforce Nigeria’s position as the preferred maritime and logistics hub for West and Central Africa”.
Dr. Oyetola also pointed to ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to modernise port operations through infrastructure upgrades, digital systems and improved efficiency.
According to him, coordinated policies and closer collaboration among agencies have eased longstanding challenges at the ports.
The minister who highlighted the National Single Window project as a key reform designed to simplify cargo clearance by integrating government processes digitally, further disclosed that existing ports would be upgraded, including the deepening of channels to accommodate larger vessels.
“These efforts have contributed to improved cargo evacuation, reduced vessel waiting time, greater operational efficiency, and a more predictable business environment for port users and investors.
“These upgrades are critical to ensuring that our ports remain globally competitive and capable of supporting larger volumes of trade in the years ahead”,he added.
On security, Dr Oyetola said the Deep Blue Project had successfully tackled piracy in Nigerian waters and significantly curtailed maritime crime across the Gulf of Guinea, helping to restore investor confidence in the region.
He therefore urged participants at the conference to focus on initiatives that would “strengthen logistical resilience in port operations and regional supply chains,” while also promoting sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth tied to maritime activities.
In his remarks, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and President of PMAWCA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said the sub-region was experiencing renewed momentum in port development, with investments exceeding 27 billion dollars either underway or recently announced.
He listed several major projects, including the Simandou-Morebaya Deep Sea Port in Guinea, the Port San Pedro project in Côte d’Ivoire, the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, as well as developments in Ghana and Senegal.
He also noted continued investment in Nigeria’s Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, alongside a significant commitment from APM Terminals.
Dantsoho said ports must evolve beyond their traditional function as transit points for cargo and play a broader role in advancing the blue economy.
According to him, “the future of the sector lies in areas such as renewable marine energy, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism and marine biotechnology”.
The event, which runs from 18 to 20 May 2026, drew a wide range of participants, including the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Kefas Agbu, representatives of the Lagos State Government, business leaders such as Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and senior presidential advisers among others.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Nafiu Gombe has picked Professor Chris Uba as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The party disowned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer.
The group said the party had already completed its presidential nomination process in line with its constitution and the Electoral Act, adding that Uba emerged as the recognized candidate after all required procedures were concluded.
The faction also disowned the National Working Committee headed by former Senate President David Mark, saying it has no constitutional or legal authority to act on behalf of the party.
It maintained that the recognized leadership of the ADC remains in charge of the party’s affairs.
According to the statement released on Wednesday, the clarification became necessary to stop attempts to create confusion about the party’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said the ADC had not entered into any alliance, merger or coalition with any political party.
added that the party remains independent and intends to contest the elections with its own structure, manifesto and leadership.
The faction said it believes Uba has the experience, character and capacity to lead the country if elected in 2027.
It also warned Atiku against presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate, saying such a claim is false and could mislead party members and the public.
The group added that the ADC would not allow its platform to be used by politicians pursuing personal ambitions or by coalition groups seeking to take over the party’s structure.
It said every constitutional and legal step would be taken to protect the party from what it described as unauthorised use of its name and platform.
The faction also dismissed reports suggesting that there were plans to stop the ADC from participating in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission and the country’s electoral process.
It said the party is preparing to present candidates for the presidency, governorships, National Assembly, state assemblies and local government elections across the country.
Three brothers have appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court in Swaziland on a murder charge following the brutal de@th of their mother’s boyfriend.
The accused, Mlondi Mbuli, 25, Sakhelwe Mbuli, 18, and Lindani Mdziniso, 23, all from the Hholoshini area in Eswatini’s Hhohho Region, are alleged to have fatally assaulted Njabulo Ngwenya on June 28, 2026.
According to police, the brothers att@cked Ngwenya with bricks, stones, sticks, open hands, and kicks to different parts of his body. Investigators allege the assa¥lt was motivated by the brothers’ belief that Ngwenya was having a relationship with their biological mother.
Court records state that the incident was reported after Sibongile Motsa, also from Hholoshini, informed police that she discovered her son, Njabulo Ngwenya, lying deed inside her sister’s house at about 1 a.m. on June 28, 2026.
The matter came before Principal Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati during the trio’s initial court appearance.
The three defendants have been remanded in custody until July 10, 2026, pending committal of the case to the High Court for further proceedings.
A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of ₦150 million linked to serving House of Representatives member, Nicholas Mutu, to the Federal Government.
The ruling was delivered by Justice J.O. Abdulmalik after the court upheld an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court held that the funds should be permanently forfeited after no convincing explanation was provided to show why the money should not be seized by the government.
The forfeiture followed earlier proceedings in which the court granted an interim order against the funds.
The court also directed that the order be published in a national newspaper to allow interested parties to challenge the application.
However, after the publication and the expiration of the required period, no sufficient cause was shown before the court to stop the permanent forfeiture.
The EFCC told the court that its investigation linked the money to alleged corrupt dealings involving Mutu during his time as chairman of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission.
According to the anti-graft agency, the lawmaker allegedly received kickbacks running into over ₦400 million from a consultant working with the NDDC.
The commission argued that part of the funds traced during investigations included the ₦150 million now ordered forfeited.
After reviewing submissions from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik ruled in favour of the EFCC and granted the final forfeiture order.
Mutu, a long-serving federal lawmaker from Delta State, remains a serving member of the House of Representatives.
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