Business
FG Seeks Private Capital, States’ Support to Transform Nigeria’s Ports
FG Seeks Private Capital, States’ Support to Transform Nigeria’s Ports
The Federal Government has called for deeper participation by the private sector and subnational governments in financing port infrastructure, operating terminals and deploying technology as part of an ambitious plan to modernise Nigeria’s seaports and cut logistics costs.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the call on Thursday at the 2026 Transport Industry Summit of the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN), held at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Oyetola represented by Mr. Paul Garnuwa, Director, Inland Transport Services, NPERA, said the Federal Government could not shoulder the entire financial and operational burden of developing the country’s maritime infrastructure, stressing that sustainable port development required stronger partnerships among the Federal Government, state governments, private investors and other stakeholders.
He said the government was therefore seeking greater private-sector participation in infrastructure financing, terminal operations, technology deployment and logistics services, while also encouraging state governments to participate in the development of new maritime gateways.
The minister disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a major modernisation programme covering Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, Onne and Rivers ports in Rivers State, Calabar Port in Cross River and Warri Port in Delta State.
According to him, the programme will involve reconstruction of quay walls, deepening of channels to accommodate larger vessels, replacement of obsolete cargo-handling equipment and increased digitalisation of terminal and gate operations.
He said the scale of the planned intervention made private capital and institutional partnerships critical to delivering modern, efficient and commercially sustainable ports.
“Port efficiency affects the entire logistics chain. A delay at the port does not remain at the port. It affects manufacturers waiting for inputs, exporters waiting for vessels, transport operators, distributors and, ultimately, consumers,” Oyetola said.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was working with state governments and private-sector investors on the development of deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states.
He said the projects would expand national port capacity, create new maritime and logistics corridors, ease pressure on existing gateways and distribute economic activities along the coastline.
Oyetola said the government was particularly interested in ensuring that states and private investors became active participants in port development rather than relying solely on federal funding.
The minister further stressed the importance of technology in transforming port operations, noting that modern logistics required electronic documentation, accurate information, data-sharing and digital systems capable of reducing unnecessary physical processes.
He said digitalisation would improve cargo visibility, make port processes more predictable and ultimately reduce the time and cost of moving goods from seaports to their final destinations.
Oyetola said recent improvements had already attracted international recognition, citing the 2025 Container Port Performance Index by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, which ranked Tin Can Island Port 10th and Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, 12th among the world’s 20 most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.
He also announced that the United States Coast Guard had in August 2026 removed its Conditions of Entry on vessels arriving from Nigeria after 12 years of additional security-related requirements.
According to him, the development followed sustained efforts to improve compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, strengthen access controls and address security gaps.
Oyetola said the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency would also help create a more predictable investment environment through regulation of tariffs and charges, service standards, competition and protection of port users. The agency commenced operations in August following presidential assent to its enabling law.
He said effective regulation, security and infrastructure must work together with private investment and technology to make Nigeria’s ports more competitive.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure that the investments and institutional changes now underway translate into practical improvements: faster cargo movement, improved vessel turnaround, greater capacity, stronger security, transparent regulation and lower logistics costs,” he said.
Oyetola urged development partners, financial institutions, state governments and industry associations to support the reform programme, stressing that greater collaboration was essential if transportation logistics was to make a stronger contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Auto
Four-day Abuja International Motor Fair begins tomorrow Nov 10
Four-day Abuja International Motor Fair begins tomorrow Nov 10
Nigeria’s automotive industry is set for a major convergence of manufacturers, investors, policymakers and technology players as the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair opens on November 10, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja, with a renewed focus on accelerating local production, investment and industry transformation.
The four-day exhibition, organised by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in partnership with BKG Exhibitions Limited, will bring together stakeholders across the automotive value chain, including vehicle manufacturers and assemblers, component producers, financial institutions, technology firms, transport operators, logistics companies and government agencies.
A major highlight will be a three-day industry conference themed, “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Transformation: Policy, Production, and Prosperity.” The conference is expected to examine critical policy directions, investment opportunities, local manufacturing and emerging technologies shaping the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
In a statement, BKG Exhibitions said the conference would feature contributions from industry leaders and experts across relevant sectors.
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, said NADDC Director-General, Otunba Joseph Osanipin, would deliver the keynote address, alongside presentations by leading figures in the automotive and transport industries.
Agwu said the fair would offer participants opportunities to engage policymakers, investors and business executives while exploring new vehicles, technologies, products and investment prospects.
Other attractions include the Nigeria Automotive Excellence Awards Night, Abuja Automotive Road Show, Ultimate Test-Drive experience, exotic car displays and the Automotive and Future Mobility Arena.
The annual exhibition has established itself as a major platform for automotive business networking, product promotion and policy engagement, with this year’s edition expected to further advance conversations around investment, innovation, local production and sustainable industry growth.
Railway
Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%
Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%
The Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project has also reached 70 per cent completion, according to the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intensified efforts to complete major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, stating that the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project had attained approximately 90 per cent completion.
The council also announced that the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project, which extends towards the Niger Republic, had reached 70 per cent completion.
According to the statement, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project was barely five per cent complete when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while the Kaduna-Kano railway had achieved less than 30 per cent completion.
The projects, described as part of the administration’s major infrastructure initiatives, are expected to improve transportation, strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods across Northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The Kaduna-Kano railway is an extension of the existing Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway and is expected to establish a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, linking major commercial centres in the region.
The council said the projects were recently inspected on the directive of President Tinubu by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi.
The delegation reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.
As part of the inspection, officials undertook a test-run journey by train from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.
The statement added that Tinubu had directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis to facilitate the completion of the remaining railway corridor linking Abuja and Kano.
It further disclosed that the 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano railway, alongside the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project, was scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.
When fully operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide an alternative to road transportation, improve passenger movement and boost commercial activities along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest economic corridors.
Similarly, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and the neighbouring Republic of Niger.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the projects reflected Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that ongoing infrastructure developments across the country were completed as scheduled.
Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%
Auto
Uwatse Joins Ade-Ojo, Maduka in Exclusive League of Nigeria Auto Legends
Uwatse Joins Ade-Ojo, Maduka in Exclusive League of Nigeria Auto Legends
In a rare recognition of industry leadership and enduring contributions to Nigeria’s automotive sector, the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has named Chief Benson Uwatse, Chairman of Weststar Associates Limited, recipient of the prestigious Nigeria Auto Legend Award at the 19th Nigeria Auto Industry Awards.
Uwatse’s emergence places him in an exclusive league of automotive icons, making him the third industry heavyweight to receive the distinction after Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, and Dr Cosmas Maduka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Group.
The recognition celebrates Uwatse’s more than three decades of involvement in the Nigerian automotive industry, particularly his role in advancing the Mercedes-Benz brand and strengthening its presence in the country’s premium and luxury vehicle market.
The recognition underscores Uwatse’s longstanding involvement in the Nigerian automotive sector and his contributions to the development and representation of the globally renowned Mercedes-Benz brand in the country.
As Chairman of Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, Uwatse occupies a strategic position in the country’s premium and luxury automobile market.
Weststar is responsible for coordinating Mercedes-Benz’s business activities in Nigeria, covering passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses, alongside dealer support, marketing, training, genuine spare parts supply, warranties and after-sales services.
The company officially commenced operations in February 2008, assuming responsibility for Mercedes-Benz sales and after-sales operations in Nigeria. Its distribution network and authorised dealerships provide sales and servicing support across different parts of the country.
Uwatse’s association with the Mercedes-Benz brand spans more than three decades, giving him considerable experience in the Nigerian automotive business, particularly in premium vehicle distribution, customer relations and brand development.
His involvement in the business has also included leadership responsibilities in the Mercedes-Benz dealership network, specifically as Managing Director of MB Automobile Services Limited, one of the authorised Mercedes-Benz dealers in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Auto Legend Award is particularly significant because it recognises individuals whose contributions extend beyond routine business operations to the development, growth and advancement of the nation’s automotive industry.
Chief Ade.Ojo, the founder of Elizade Nigeria Limited and Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, was the first recipient of the special industry recognition in 2017, in acknowledgement of his decades of investment, enterprise and contributions to Nigeria’s automobile business.
Dr Maduka, who transformed Coscharis from a modest automobile trading venture into one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous conglomerates, also earned recognition for his remarkable contributions to the automotive sector. Under his leadership, Coscharis Motors secured distribution franchises for several globally recognised automobile brands, including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and Ford.
Uwatse’s emergence as the third recipient further reinforces NAJA’s commitment to celebrating individuals whose leadership, enterprise and industry experience have contributed significantly to the evolution of Nigeria’s automotive landscape.
The 19th edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Awards, organised by NAJA, is scheduled to hold on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The annual awards bring together automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers, policymakers, regulators, industry professionals and other stakeholders to celebrate outstanding achievements and recognise excellence across Nigeria’s automotive and transportation sectors.
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