Nigeria Onne and Calabar Port Plans: What Sesame Exporters Should Weigh Before Leaving Lagos

Nigeria Onne and Calabar Port Plans: What Sesame Exporters Should Weigh Before Leaving Lagos

The Federal Government says it will modernise Onne, Warri and Calabar ports to ease pressure on Lagos, but this is a stated priority, not a finished upgrade. For Nigeria sesame export, the choice between Lagos and a southern port still comes down to haulage from the loading point, which shipping lines call, and how reliably a container makes the vessel cut-off.

What exactly has the government announced?

According to BizWatch Nigeria, in a report dated 16 October 2026, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said at the 2026 World Maritime Day event in Lagos that the government is prioritising modernisation of Onne, Warri and Calabar. The stated aims are to reduce congestion at Lagos ports, lower cargo transportation costs and expand maritime trade.

He said more than 70 per cent of cargo destined for other regions still passes through Lagos ports. He also said the government intends to link seaports, inland dry ports and production centres by road, rail and inland waterways.

The report gives no completion dates and no measure aimed at sesame. It also notes that any cost savings depend on implementation.

How should a sesame seller compare Lagos with Onne or Calabar?

Start with haulage. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council describes sesame production as spread across ten states in North and Central Nigeria, so every route to the coast involves a long truck leg. Ask transporters for quotes from your aggregation point to each port gate.

Next, shipping line calls. The minister said the ministry wants Nigerian ports to be more attractive to international shipping lines, which implies line coverage is still to be won. Before moving a booking, ask your forwarder which lines serve your destination from each port, and whether the routing is direct or transhipped.

Then, lead time and handling. A Maritime Logistics Professional article of 30 May 2019 reported that the West Africa Container Terminal had built a 1,520 square metre container freight station at Onne for exporters of goods such as cashew nuts and sesame seeds. It said the station could process 16 TEUs per day in a two-shift operation, with storage, stuffing, customs clearance and container weighing under one roof. That is a 2019 description, so confirm it today.

The sources I opened say nothing sesame-specific about Warri or Calabar. Treat them as unproven until a forwarder confirms line service and stuffing arrangements.

What this means for buyers

A European buyer should treat a change of loading port as a contract variation, not a logistics footnote. Ask the seller these questions in writing:

First, does the new port match the contract, the bill of lading draft, the phytosanitary certificate and the certificate of origin? Under FOB terms the named port is part of the price basis, so agree who pays any haulage change.

Second, where will the container be stuffed, sampled and sealed? Port-side stuffing is a different control point from stuffing upcountry.

Third, which line and routing will carry it, and is the transit time quoted for the new port rather than copied from Lagos? Ask for the vessel cut-off and the fallback if the container misses it.

Fourth, where do residue and quality tests happen, and do they precede loading? Do not let a port switch compress testing time.

Related reading: Nigeria paraquat phase-out and sesame residue testing and Ugandan coffee and the US trade trail.

FAQ

Q: Have Onne, Warri and Calabar already been upgraded?
A: No. In its 16 October 2026 report, BizWatch Nigeria said the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy described modernisation of the three ports as a priority, and the report gave no completion dates.

Q: Is there a sesame-handling facility at Onne?
A: As of a 30 May 2019 Maritime Logistics Professional report, the West Africa Container Terminal had built a container freight station at Onne for exporters of goods such as cashew nuts and sesame seeds. Confirm it is still operating.

Q: What should a European buyer ask when a Nigerian seller changes the port of loading?
A: Ask whether the documents and contract name the new port, who bears the change in haulage cost, where the container is stuffed, sampled and sealed, which line and transit time apply from that port, and whether residue testing still happens before loading.

Sources: BizWatch Nigeria | Nigerian Export Promotion Council | Maritime Logistics Professional