Nigeria launches Bakassi deep seaport
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on ThisDay
Nigeria has launched work on the Bakassi deep seaport, a project intended to accommodate large vessels and open new trade corridors. The port, linked to a 260-kilometre highway, is expected to support industrialisation and create jobs, according to the Nigerian presidency.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the launch of work on the Bakassi deep seaport, in Cross River State, on Friday 13 November 2026 as an investment intended to open new trade corridors, support industrialisation and create jobs. The president was represented at the ceremony by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, reports ThisDay.
The port is designed with a 20-metre draft to accommodate large vessels that currently bypass Nigerian ports. The project is linked to a 260-kilometre highway intended to transport goods to markets across the country, according to ThisDay.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu recalled that the project was conceived in 2014 and that an environmental and social impact assessment was prepared in March 2015. The financing structure includes a $3.5 billion financing agreement with Afreximbank, while the public-private partnership framework was formalised in February 2025, reports ThisDay.
The president said the new port should complement maritime activity in Lagos, whose infrastructure handles more than 80% of Nigeria’s foreign trade, according to his statements. He also said the project should enable Nigeria to retain more regional cargo and expand its access to international markets.
