The First Seaport in Nigeria

Seaports have been critical to Nigeria’s economic prosperity from the colonial era and beyond. During the colonial period, the ports were built to serve as conduits for Nigerian naval trade to Europe in general and Britain in particular.

As a result, the first seaport in Nigeria, known as Calabar Port, was built at Cross River, Calabar State. The Calabar Port’s history may be traced back to the 15th-century merchants. It was an important commerce center with the rest of the world, as well as a harbor for products arriving from the north.

In need of a Nigerian indigenous construction partner?

View Dutum Construction Projects in Nigeria.

Various shipping companies, including M/S Palm line Agencies Limited and Elder Dempster Agencies, privately administered and operated the old port until December 1969, when the Federal Government took over the inadequate Calabar Port facilities and vested port operations to the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The port’s construction, renovation, and extension were carried out as part of the 3rd National Development Plan of 1975-1980 in order to upgrade the facilities to meet the ever-increasing demand of the Nigerian economy.

The port was also designed to be a strategic and easy access point for neighboring nations like Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Today, the port is estimated to bring in roughly 12 billion Naira per year for the Federal Government.