The Federal Government has advanced its blue economy agenda with the formal approval of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, reinforcing efforts to position Nigeria as a competitive maritime and logistics hub.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, presented the project’s Certificate of Compliance to the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, marking a major milestone in the development of the seaport.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the minister’s Special Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a strategic national asset aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the project is central to the Federal Government’s plan to expand maritime capacity, enhance logistics efficiency, and unlock economic opportunities across the country.
The minister assured that the Federal Government would continue to support Cross River State to ensure the successful delivery of the project, while commending Governor Otu for his commitment and the pace of work on the initiative.
According to Oyetola, the seaport has the potential to significantly boost livelihoods, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities not only for Cross River State but for Nigeria as a whole. He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to sustained collaboration with the state government and private sector partners to bring the project to fruition.
The presentation followed the recent approval of the Bakassi Deep Seaport by the Federal Executive Council.
Responding, Governor Otu described the development as historic, noting that it represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to unlock the full potential of the marine and blue economy. He said Cross River State is strategically positioned to play a leading role in the country’s maritime development, drawing parallels with coastal nations such as Brazil that have successfully leveraged their maritime assets.
Otu expressed confidence that, with the professionalism and commitment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and private sector stakeholders, the deep seaport project is firmly on track. He also commended President Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and for appointing Oyetola as minister, describing both decisions as timely and critical to the sector’s growth.
The Bakassi Deep Seaport is a key component of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to decongest existing ports, particularly in Lagos, while diversifying the economy through marine and blue economy development. Leveraging Cross River State’s coastal location and proximity to international shipping routes, the seaport is expected to serve as a major cargo and logistics hub for Nigeria’s eastern corridor and landlocked regions in the North-Central and North-East.
The project has gained renewed momentum following the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which is focused on unlocking value from shipping, ports, fisheries, and coastal resources, while attracting private investment, boosting trade, creating jobs, and strengthening regional integration.
