FG backs Bakassi Deep Seaport

…It’s a game-changer for Nigeria’s maritime future — Oyetola 

By Seun Ibiyemi 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has thrown its full support behind the Bakassi Deep Seaport Integrated Project, a major infrastructural initiative at transforming Nigeria’s maritime sector and boosting the nation’s economy. 

In a statement over the weekend by the minister’s spokesman, Ismail Omipidan, the endorsement came from the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Cross River State Government in Calabar, on September 19, 2024.

In his goodwill message, Oyetola, represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, emphasised the strategic importance of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, which he noted was poised to be Nigeria’s first agro-value chain-based deep seaport. 

The project, which includes a 217-kilometer superhighway serving as the evacuation corridor to northern Nigeria, the statement noted, is expected to facilitate the export of key agricultural products such as rubber, timber, cocoa, palm oil, and livestock. 

This, according to the Minister, would enhance Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global market while significantly boosting foreign exchange earnings.

“The Bakassi Deep Seaport is not just an infrastructure project; it is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable practices and economic diversification,” Oyetola stated. 

He praised the Cross River State Government’s adoption of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which he described as a sustainable approach to funding, managing, and enhancing maritime infrastructure. 

This model, he noted, would ensure the port’s competitiveness and attractiveness to both local