Blue Economy
NIWA Eyes West Coast Cargo Jetty as Nigeria-Ghana Trade Corridor Takes Shape
NIWA Eyes West Coast Cargo Jetty as Nigeria-Ghana Trade Corridor Takes Shape
Authority commits waterfront infrastructure to sub-regional push; Calabar–Cameroon route cited as proof of concept
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News Correspondent | Lagos
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has signalled its readiness to anchor the development of a proposed West Coast cargo jetty, positioning Nigeria’s inland waterways network as the backbone of a new sub-regional trade corridor linking Lagos to Accra.
The disclosure came during a joint inspection of the Marina Jetty in Lagos on Thursday, attended by officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), NIWA, and a trade delegation from Ghana comprising corporate and private sector representatives.
Leading the NIWA delegation, Acting Managing Director Mr. Yusuf Girei confirmed that the Authority is prepared to operationalise select existing jetties as a pilot phase, targeting smoother cargo movement between Nigeria and Ghana. He pointed to NIWA’s sprawling waterfront infrastructure as a ready platform for technology-driven, hassle-free cargo operations with direct market access across Lagos.
Girei, flanked by the Authority’s General Manager (Marine), Engr. Horsefall Dakio, and Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, said NIWA’s waterways network makes it a critical enabler of inland cargo movement across West Africa.
“We are committed to leveraging our infrastructure and expertise to facilitate regional trade. Our experience on the Calabar–Cameroon route demonstrates the viability of inland water transport in boosting market access within Nigeria and across West Africa,” Girei stated.
The Authority noted that its operational track record on the Calabar–Cameroon corridor provides a scalable model for extending similar services across the West Coast, with the Lagos–Accra axis as the next logical frontier.
Nigeria Watch
The Marina Jetty inspection signals something larger than bilateral trade logistics — it marks a quiet but consequential repositioning of Nigeria’s inland waterways as an instrument of regional economic integration. For years, NIWA’s vast infrastructure has sat underutilised relative to its potential, while road-dependent trade remained the default model for West African commerce.
A functioning Nigeria–Ghana cargo corridor via water would benefit Nigerian shippers, freight forwarders, and port-adjacent businesses directly, while easing pressure on congested land routes. It would also lend weight to the Federal Government’s broader blue economy ambitions under Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, which have consistently emphasised turning waterways into productive economic assets rather than administrative liabilities.
The critical test now is whether Thursday’s inspection translates into concrete infrastructure activation — with timelines, investment commitments, and regulatory clarity from both NIWA and NPA on operational modalities. Nigerian maritime stakeholders will be watching closely.