Delta ports currently contribute about 10.7 percent of national trade volumes, which is impressive, but there is room for improvement. With stronger collaboration, we can restore the vibrancy of these ports and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime trade-Sen. Adeleye
Asaba-As the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori continued to close ties with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, in what political analysts say, a strategic move in leadership, will not only hasten development in the state but economic activities.
It was in the light of this, that the Governor on Monday, urged the Federal Government to revive the Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu ports and reiterated his administration’s commitment to collaborate with the Government at the centre in that regard.
The governor spoke when he received Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) led by its Chairman, Prince Senator Adedayo Adeleye, yesterday, using the medium to appeal that the revival of the seaports will unlock the full economic potentials of the state.
He insisted that the revitalization of the ports would create jobs, attract investments, and boost national revenue, saying; “Delta State is strategically blessed with four ports. If these ports are revived, they will create massive employment, stimulate trade, and strengthen the economy of Delta and Nigeria. It is often more impactful to modernize existing ports than to build new ones”.
Oborevwori commended the NPA for its modernization efforts but appealed for urgent dredging of the Warri Channel and the rehabilitation of Warri and Koko port facilities, stressing that such interventions needed to be treated as national priorities.
The governor disclosed that Delta was working closely with the Federal Government to tackle critical infrastructural challenges, saying; “these collaborations are already yielding results. The Federal Government has awarded the Summit Junction–Bridge head section of the Benin-Asaba Highway to Heartland Construction Company while the State Government has awarded a section of the Sapele–Warri Road project to CCECC at a cost of N35 billion. This is a clear demonstration of the positive relationship between the state and the centre”
Oborevwori assured potential investors of improved security in the state, noting that oil installations were no longer under frequent attacks and that the environment was now peaceful for business.
Meanwhile, Senator Adeleye pledged the Board’s readiness to work closely with the Delta State Government to revive the ports in the state and enhance their contribution to Nigeria’s maritime economy.
He said Delta ports — Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu were strategic gateways that, if fully optimized, would boost trade, create jobs, and drive economic growth.
He noted that the NPA Board, inaugurated in June by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, embarked on a nationwide tour of ports to assess challenges firsthand before implementing solutions.
The NPA boss commended the Delta State Government for supporting security around the ports, stressing that safety remained crucial to sustaining operations.
He also highlighted issues of underutilization, collapsed quays, shallow drafts, and the need for a deep seaport to attract global shipping traffic.
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