Escravos Channel Still Clogged After NPA Dredging Failure

Despite promises from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), urgent dredging of the Escravos Channel, a crucial route for Nigeria’s oil exports and trade, has yet to begin. Months after the NPA’s October 2024 commitment to start desilting within 16 months, little progress has been made, leaving operators frustrated and disrupting operations.

The Escravos Channel, which connects the Niger Delta region to the Atlantic Ocean, has faced long-standing issues of shallow depth and sedimentation, causing vessels to run aground. The NPA had promised to undertake maintenance to alleviate congestion and improve ease, but investigations show that no significant action has been taken since the pledge was made.

Warri Sentinel understands that a contract for remedial dredging was awarded, and the NPA assured that work would begin soon, yet the dredger initially stationed at the site was removed without completing any meaningful work. Local business owners and maritime stakeholders are growing concerned about the lack of progress, with some questioning whether the NPA has failed to meet its commitments or encountered unforeseen delays.

The failure to dredge the channel has resulted in disruptions to Nigeria’s oil and trade sectors, with vessels often stuck in the shallows and requiring costly tugboat assistance to be refloated. The delays are not only increasing operational costs for businesses but also harming the country’s global competitiveness.

Environmental risks such as oil spills and coastal pollution have intensified due to the channel’s neglected state. The government’s inability to address this issue has raised doubts about the success of its infrastructure reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The NPA had previously stated that dredging efforts were being mobilised, but as of January 2025, there has been no visible improvement. Stakeholders are now calling for urgent intervention, urging the government to either hold the NPA accountable or explore alternative solutions to ensure the channel is restored and maintained.