The Federal Government of Nigeria has restated its unwavering commitment to realizing the Agge Deep Sea Port project in Bayelsa State, characterizing it as critical maritime infrastructure poised to generate significant investment prospects, employment, and economic expansion throughout the Niger Delta region.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, delivered this commitment through an official statement in Abuja, emphasizing that the proposed deep sea port constitutes a fundamental pillar of the Federal Government’s strategy to broaden Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure capabilities and strengthen the nation’s blue economy sector.
The minister underscored that this maritime infrastructure initiative directly supports President Bola Tinubu’s wider economic transformation framework, which prioritizes trade expansion, industrial growth, and sustainable development across Nigeria. The Agge Deep Sea Port would advance South-South maritime connectivity while enhancing Nigeria’s standing in both regional and international commerce while alleviating congestion at existing port facilities throughout the country.
The minister emphasized that this maritime infrastructure development will substantially enhance job creation, attract investment capital, and foster economic development specifically within the Niger Delta region. The port’s operational capacity will extend beyond traditional maritime functions, stimulating economic activity across logistics, fisheries, shipbuilding, maritime services, and tourism sectors.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy collaborates actively with Bayelsa State Government and relevant stakeholders to speed up Agge Deep Sea Port implementation. This coordinated approach reflects the integrated strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s blue economy through modernized maritime infrastructure development that benefits multiple economic sectors simultaneously.
The Agge Deep Sea Port is anticipated to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment positions while attracting both domestic and international investment capital to the region. Dr Oyetola commended Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for his consistent support and collaborative alignment of the state’s development initiatives with the Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy strategic direction. The minister characterized the port as a transformative catalyst for regional development and a foundational element of Nigeria’s emerging maritime future.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, characterized the marine and blue economy sector as exceptionally capital-intensive, necessitating significant long-term financing mechanisms to facilitate sustainable growth and comprehensive sector modernization. Mrs Mahmood disclosed that the ministry has recently assessed a £1 billion financing facility in the United Kingdom demonstrating the considerable investment scale required to comprehensively transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure landscape.
According to Mrs Mahmood, the Ministry maintains an open approach toward partnerships with financial institutions capable of delivering innovative financing mechanisms that support large-scale infrastructure undertakings and accelerate broader maritime and blue economy development.
