A quiet revolution is taking place in Nigeria’s maritime sector — and its epicentre is not Lagos, but the creeks and coastlines of the Niger Delta.
Under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is repositioning the Delta Ports Complex as a new hub of trade, logistics, and regional growth.
For years, the ports of Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu symbolized unrealized potential. Their strategic location — linking the South-South, South-East, and North-Central regions — could have made them engines of industrial and export expansion. Instead, shallow channels, aging quays, and poor navigational infrastructure kept them underused.
Now, a comprehensive revival plan is turning that narrative around — with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economic diversification and non-oil export drive.
Warri Port: Administrative Heart of Delta Ports
Established in 1955 via the Port Act of 1954, Warri Port began with the takeover of Miller Beach and ATC Beach previously operated by UAC. The Warri New Port, commissioned on June 16, 1979, expanded capacity and became the Administrative Headquarters of the Delta Ports Complex, covering Warri Old and New Ports, Sapele, Koko, and Burutu — including crude oil terminals at Escravos, Forcados, Pennington, Abo, Ukpokiti, and several private jetties at Ifie, Sapele, Oghara, Koko, and Aladja.
Warri Port operates under the Landlord Port Model, following the 2006 Federal Government concession, with NPA as regulator and developer. Key terminal operators include:
Associated Maritime Services (AMS) Ltd – Terminal A, New Port
INTELS Nigeria Ltd – Terminal B, New Port
Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Ltd – Terminal A, Old Port
Julius Berger Services Nigeria (JBSN) Ltd – Terminal C, Old Port
This configuration has made Warri not only a maritime gateway but also a coordination hub for port operations across the Niger Delta.
Koko Port: The Rising Star of Delta Trade
Originally designated for agro-allied exports, Koko Port today handles general cargo under lease to Creekshore Jetty & Terminal Ltd. With a natural depth of 9 metres, the port can accommodate mid-sized vessels — a feature that positions it as a relief outlet for Lagos and Port Harcourt ports during congestion.
Koko Port also plays a crucial role in coordinating vessel traffic to private jetties at Koko, Oghara, and Sapele — all key revenue points for liquid bulk cargoes. Planned breakwater reconstruction, capital dredging, and channel management will further expand its operational depth and efficiency.
Port Marine and Navigational Operations
The Warri Pilotage District operates two pilotage strategies — by NPA Pilots and Escravos Ship Pilot Nig. Ltd. (ESPNL) — supervised by the Harbour Master.
NPA Pilots handle navigation from Bennett Island to Warri Port and Koko Anchorage to Koko Port.
ESPNL Pilots cover Fairway Buoy to Bennett Island and Fairway Buoy to Koko Anchorage.
Towage services are provided through third-party operators under NPA supervision.
Key marine data include:
Breakwaters: Main Mole – 9km; Island Mole – 1km
Channel distance: Fairway Buoy to Warri Port – 58NM (107.4km); to Koko Port – 60NM (111.1km)
Navigable depth: 6.4m average draft from Fairway Buoy to both ports
Ongoing Projects and Renewed Infrastructure
Across Warri, Koko, Burutu, and Sapele, multiple rehabilitation and modernization projects are underway, including:
Rehabilitation of Delta Ports Administrative Annex and Tariff & Billing Buildings
Extension of Delta Port Clinic and renovation of Marketing Hall
Condition surveys of quays and underwater structures across all terminals
Construction of Ramos Signal Station with new marine communication systems
Reconnection of electricity to Koko Port
Installation of 132 new mooring bollards and safety systems
Construction of facilities for Vessel Traffic System (VTS) at Burutu
Planned projects include reconstruction of collapsed breakwaters, installation of Aids to Navigation (AtoNs), restoration of the Warri Port water treatment plant, and full illumination of Warri and Koko Ports for 24-hour operations.
Security, Community Synergy, and Blue Economy Outlook
Following the emergency dredging of the Escravos Channel and installation of the Escravos Signal Station in 2024, vessel movement and safety have improved dramatically. The deployment of the Marine Security Boat SPB Likoro and the removal of water hyacinths have further enhanced navigability.
Equally significant is NPA’s growing synergy with host communities, notably the Olu of Warri, Orodje of Okpe, and Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh, ensuring peace and collaboration that underpin the port’s revival.
These reforms support NPA’s broader vision for a blue economy — fostering investments in marine logistics, fisheries, renewable energy, and tourism.
Economic and Strategic Payoffs
Analysts estimate that every ₦1 billion invested in Delta Ports infrastructure yields ₦3–₦4 billion in related economic activity — from shipping to local enterprise. With rising cargo throughput and private sector participation, the Delta corridor is re-emerging as a major export and industrial gateway for Nigeria.
As Dantsoho’s modernization blueprint takes shape, Delta Ports are evolving from underused facilities into vital engines of national prosperity — decongesting Lagos, empowering Niger Delta communities, and redefining Nigeria’s non-oil maritime future.
“When ports work, the economy works,” says a senior NPA official. “And as Delta Ports return to full steam, they will anchor a new era of inclusive growth for Nigeria’s maritime economy.”
Okonta is a Lagos-based business analyst and maritime consultant.
