The Federal Government has approved a new channel management arrangement for Nigeria’s seaports, as part of efforts to improve navigation, strengthen port operations and accommodate larger vessels.
The approval was disclosed by Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, Chairman of the Ports Operations and Security Committee of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, during a review of port operations in the second quarter of 2026.
However, available reports confirm the approval of a channel management consortium for maintaining and deepening channels serving Delta ports, but do not identify four newly approved firms by name.
What the Approval Means
Channel management firms help maintain navigable waterways by carrying out dredging, monitoring channel depths and removing obstructions that could affect vessels entering or leaving ports.
These activities are important to Nigeria’s maritime industry, where shallow channels can limit the size of ships that ports can accommodate and affect cargo movement.
The Federal Executive Council has also approved arrangements for maintaining and deepening channels serving Delta ports, while other port infrastructure projects are being pursued to improve operational efficiency.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria, the measures are expected to support safer navigation and improve port performance.
Boosting Port Efficiency
The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to modernise Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in regional trade.
In September 2026, the government approved upgrades for Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports, complementing earlier modernisation plans for Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.
The wider programme aims to improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times and make the movement of goods more efficient.
DDM News reports that effective channel management will remain important to these ambitions, as improved port facilities must be supported by waterways capable of handling maritime traffic safely and efficiently.
Source: Vanguard
