Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has called on the federal government to revive the Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu seaports to unlock the state’s economic potential as Nigeria’s maritime hub.

The governor spoke when the board of directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), led by its chairman, Adedayo Adeleye, visited him at the government house, Asaba, on Monday.

Mr Oborevwori assured of his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government to effectively revive the seaports to create jobs, attract investments, and boost national revenue.

The governor said, “Delta State is strategically blessed with four seaports. If these ports are revived, they will create massive employment, stimulate trade, and strengthen the economy of Delta and Nigeria. It is often more impactful to modernise existing ports than to build new ones.”

He lauded the NPA for its modernisation efforts but appealed for urgent dredging of the Warri Channel and the rehabilitation of Warri and Koko port facilities, stressing that such interventions needed to be treated as national priorities.

The governor disclosed that Delta was working closely with the federal government to tackle critical infrastructural challenges. According to him, these collaborations are already yielding results.

“The federal government has awarded the Summit Junction–Bridgehead section of the Benin-Asaba Highway to Heartland Construction Company, while the state government has awarded a section of the Sapele–Warri Road project to CCECC at a cost of N35 billion,” the governor said.

Mr Oborevwori assured potential investors of improved security in the state, noting that oil installations were no longer under frequent attacks and that the environment was now peaceful for business.

Earlier, Mr Adeleye pledged the board’s readiness to work closely with the Delta government to revive the state’s ports and enhance their contribution to Nigeria’s maritime economy.

Mr Adeleye noted that the NPA board, inaugurated in June by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, embarked on a nationwide tour of ports to assess challenges firsthand before implementing solutions.

The NPA boss commended the Delta government for supporting security around the ports, stressing that safety remains crucial to sustaining operations.

He also highlighted issues of underutilisation, collapsed quays, shallow channels, and the need for a deep seaport to attract global shipping traffic.

“Delta ports currently contribute about 10.7 per cent of national trade volumes, which is impressive, but there is room for improvement.

“With stronger collaboration, we can restore the vibrancy of these ports and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime trade,” Mr Adeleye said.

The delegation acknowledged the state government’s role in fostering cordial relations with host communities and implementing corporate social responsibility initiatives to sustain peace.

(NAN)