How Dedicated Shipping Lines Could Revive Eastern Nigerian Ports

Eastern Nigerian ports remain underused partly because ships charge more to berth there. Importers naturally avoid higher costs, leaving ports such as Onne below capacity. The first step should be dedicated ocean-liner services to Eastern ports at competitive rates, beginning with a China-Onne route. State governments in the region could support an initial service and allow traffic to grow gradually. Once cargo volumes become reliable, private investors will have a stronger reason to expand port facilities and logistics infrastructure. Nigeria handles more than 136 million tonnes of cargo yearly, but investors will only commit major funds when projected revenue can sustain their debt. Increasing imports through Eastern ports by about 30 million tonnes annually could make expansion more viable. The immediate opportunities include imported industrial inputs such as steel, flour and other manufacturers' feedstock for businesses closer to the region. Eastern states should focus on attracting this cargo and container traffic before pursuing costly new port projects.

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