The Nigerian Ports Authority says construction on its long-awaited $1 billion port upgrade is set to begin before the third quarter of 2026 ends, after it finishes consultations with stakeholders and host communities.
The agency said it is concluding the last non-construction requirements before contractors move to site. It added that the outreach is important to prepare port users and nearby residents for the disruption that major construction work will bring, including heavy machinery, noise and related activities.
The project has drawn fresh attention after reports that Nigeria has already begun servicing the foreign loan used to fund it, even though work has yet to start.
Seen as one of the biggest infrastructure renewal efforts in the maritime sector, the project is meant to rehabilitate aging facilities at key seaports, especially the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and Tin Can Island Port. Once completed, it is expected to improve port operations, increase cargo handling capacity, reduce vessel waiting time and strengthen the position of Nigerian ports in West and Central Africa.
