PORTS INFRASTRUCTURE ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract The study investigated port infrastructure administration in Nigeria by assessing the major challenges affecting infrastructure development and prospects for improving port performance. The study was anchored on the Balanced Theory of Port Competitiveness and adopted a qualitative descriptive-analytical design based on documentary analysis and comparative assessment of selected global port systems, including Singapore, Rotterdam, China, and Morocco. The study found that although recent investments, particularly the Lekki Deep Sea Port, have introduced modern facilities and improved cargo-handling capacity, major challenges persist across Nigeria’s traditional port terminals. These challenges include inadequate funding, ageing infrastructure, weak road and rail connectivity, limited maintenance culture, institutional fragmentation, and ineffective oversight of concession arrangements. The study further found that these constraints contribute to congestion, prolonged cargo dwell time, increased logistics costs, and reduced competitiveness of Nigerian ports within the regional maritime environment. The study concluded that improving port infrastructure administration requires more than isolated facility upgrades, rather, it demands an integrated approach that covers long-term infrastructure planning, reliable financing, effective governance, and stronger accountability mechanisms. It recommended the adoption of coordinated port development strategies that integrate modern deep-water facilities with industrial zones and efficient transport networks, while ensuring transparent management of concessions and sustained maintenance of existing infrastructure. Keywords: Port Infrastructure Administration, Maritime Trade, Port Competitiveness, Cargo Throughput, Terminal Concessions, Trade Facilitation