In an update published by Channels TV, the Federal Government has announced that the multi-billion naira reconstruction of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos will officially commence in the second quarter of 2026. The project, funded through a £746 million export finance deal with the United Kingdom, is expected to be completed within 48 months and will include significant dredging to accommodate larger vessels.
Bolaji Akinola, special adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, confirmed that the financing aspect via Citibank and UK Export Finance has been finalized. The upgrade will increase the port draft from 13 meters to 16 meters, allowing massive vessels carrying up to 20,000 TEUs to berth in Lagos for the first time.
Premium Times noted that “British Steel will supply 120,000 tonnes of steel” for the project, while The Guardian highlighted that “at least 20 percent of components must be sourced from the UK.” Boma Alabi of the Shipping Association of Nigeria remarked, “This is the modernization the maritime sector has been waiting for.”
Echotitbits take: This isn’t just about new cranes; it’s about draft depth. By allowing larger ships, Nigeria can finally compete with the port of Cotonou for regional transshipment dominance, potentially lowering shipping costs for Nigerian importers.
Source: The Cable – https://www.thecable.ng/fg-says-upgrade-of-tincan-apapa-ports-expected-to-begin-in-q2/, March 31, 2026
Photo credit: The Cable
