The Federal Government is in advanced talks with private sector investors to commit nearly $60 million towards transforming the Onne Port in Rivers State into Nigeria's first fully electrified and environmentally sustainable green port.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this at the Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The summit, themed "Unlocking Climate Finance for Sustainable Development," convened government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners focused on advancing low-carbon infrastructure and unlocking climate finance for Nigeria's transition to a greener economy.
Shettima described Onne Port as a flagship for Nigeria's broader green economy ambitions, revealing that the electrification project represents months of strategic engagement with stakeholders.
"Onne is already emerging as the model for our push to develop green infrastructure. Discussions are ongoing with private investors to commit $60 million towards making it Nigeria's first green port," he stated.
At the summit, APM Terminals presented a white paper titled "A Pragmatic Roadmap to Unlock Transformational Benefits Beyond Decarbonisation," outlining opportunities for electrifying Nigeria's container transport sector.
Read also
According to the document, Nigeria could unlock $830 million in investments by 2030 through port electrification, while creating skilled jobs, reducing carbon emissions by 390 kilotonnes, and improving energy reliability and public health.
Highlighting global trends, the report noted that over 40 ports worldwide have successfully transitioned to electric-powered operations, including in Kenya and India, with proven economic and environmental gains.
APM Terminals, which operates container terminals in Apapa (Lagos) and WACT (Onne), along with a depot in Kano, emphasized Nigeria's potential to leapfrog fossil-powered logistics and lead Africa's green maritime future.
"Containerised trade is the backbone of Nigeria's economy, and electrification is crucial to aligning operations with global standards," said Frederik Klinke, CEO of APM Terminals Nigeria. "Beyond reducing emissions, it also enhances the working environment and delivers community-level benefits."
Eveline Speelman, a partner at advisory firm Systemiq, added that the timing is critical, as nearly 60% of Nigeria's container terminal concessions are due for renewal.
"This is a strategic window to embed electrification into Nigeria's next wave of logistics infrastructure. The moment to act is now," she said.
The government's push toward a green port aligns with broader climate goals and is expected to attract further climate finance into Nigeria's maritime and infrastructure sectors.
