BUA Group is investing $85 million to expand its Port Harcourt port and terminal operations in a move that underscores growing private sector confidence in Nigeria’s eastern maritime corridor and signals increasing investment in logistics infrastructure to support industrial expansion.
The investment, which will add about 600 metres of quay frontage to BUA Ports and Terminals, is designed to significantly increase cargo-handling capacity ahead of the company’s expanding food manufacturing operations, which are expected to import more than two million tonnes of raw materials annually from next year.
Abdul Samad Rabiu,chairman of BUA Group, disclosed the investment during a visit to Abubakar Dantsoho, the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in Lagos, where he briefed the agency on the progress of the project and sought continued regulatory support.
The expansion represents one of the largest recent private sector investments in Nigeria’s eastern port infrastructure and reflects a development towards strengthening logistics capacity outside the Lagos port axis as manufacturers seek more efficient supply chains.
Rabiu said the terminal expansion had advanced substantially and would become a critical logistics backbone for the group’s rapidly growing food business in Port Harcourt.
According to him, BUA Foods’ ongoing capacity expansion will substantially increase raw material imports, making dedicated port infrastructure essential for efficient operations.
“By the time we complete our expansion next year, we will be importing more than two million tonnes of raw materials annually into Port Harcourt, and for that we need a modern terminal and supporting facilities,” Rabiu said.
Beyond supporting its food business, the expanded terminal is expected to enhance logistics across BUA’s diversified operations spanning cement, mining, infrastructure and other industrial businesses, reducing supply chain costs and improving operational efficiency.
Rabiu argued that Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading African industrial economy cannot be realised without substantial improvements in port infrastructure.
He noted that Nigeria, despite being one Africa’s largest economies, still faces significant infrastructure deficits within its maritime sector, limiting trade competitiveness and increasing logistics costs for businesses.
The BUA chairman also recalled that the Port Harcourt terminal project had previously faced uncertainty after its acquisition rights were revoked, but said support from the current NPA management had enabled the investment to proceed.
For the Nigerian Ports Authority, the project represents more than private sector investment; it is expected to increase cargo throughput, diversify port activity and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Dantsoho described the expansion as a significant boost for the eastern ports, saying the Authority expects double-digit growth in cargo volumes and revenue once the project becomes operational.
According to him, increased private investment in port infrastructure will generate greater trade volumes, create additional government revenue and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub.
“We expect more cargo volumes, more trade transactions, more value creation and ultimately more revenue in both naira and foreign exchange,” Dantsoho said.
He estimated that the project could increase port activity by between 13 and 14 percent, approaching the global industry benchmark for annual throughput growth.
The NPA chief also highlighted recent improvements in the international standing of Nigerian ports, noting that Apapa and Tin Can Island ports were recently recognised by international institutions among the world’s most improved ports.
He attributed the progress to closer collaboration between the Authority and private sector investors, describing public-private partnerships as critical to modernising Nigeria’s port system and unlocking future trade opportunities.
