General
The Challenges Of Dredging In Nigeria And Specifically In Africa
Introduction
Dredging plays a vital role in shaping economic and environmental outcomes across many African nations. In Nigeria, a country defined by its vast waterways, complex delta systems, and dense coastal regions, dredging has become more than a necessity—it’s a core infrastructure activity. However, despite its importance, dredging in Nigeria faces several challenges that are deeply rooted in geographical, regulatory, and economic complexities.
A Growing Need for Dredging
Nigeria’s rivers and coastline have long served as important transportation and economic corridors. However, with increased siltation, encroaching sandbars, and sediment build-up, vital routes have become less navigable. As a result, dredging is frequently required for river dredging operations, port access, and flood management. Additionally, the continuous need for coastal erosion control is pushing both public and private stakeholders to invest in long-term dredging strategies.
Unfortunately, the regional challenges across Africa make consistent progress difficult.
Environmental and Regulatory Hurdles
One of the primary issues facing dredging in Nigeria is regulatory inconsistency. Multiple layers of local, state, and federal governance often result in conflicting permits, unclear environmental impact standards, and delayed approvals. These delays are especially critical when dealing with waterway infrastructure development, which requires timely intervention to prevent disruptions in transportation and trade.
Furthermore, environmental concerns—such as disturbance to aquatic ecosystems, resettlement of nearby communities, and improper disposal of dredged materials—must be addressed with sensitive planning and oversight. Without clear environmental frameworks, these concerns can result in halted projects or long-term ecological damage.
Infrastructure and Equipment Gaps
Dredging projects in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, are often hindered by a lack of modern equipment and trained personnel. Many small operators rely on outdated or makeshift dredging machines that are inefficient and prone to breakdowns. This gap is particularly evident in more remote or underfunded regions where access to quality dredging tools and support is limited.
Dredge Flow continues to advocate for partnerships that bring in more sustainable equipment and technical expertise into local markets. The goal is not only to improve project efficiency but also to increase safety and long-term results.
Socio-Economic Factors
The intersection of dredging with socio-economic development cannot be overlooked. On the one hand, dredging stimulates job creation and enables trade by maintaining waterways. On the other hand, unregulated dredging practices can lead to land disputes, environmental degradation, and the displacement of communities. Balancing these outcomes is one of the more delicate challenges in regions already affected by limited infrastructure and governance gaps.
Moreover, due to Nigeria’s urban expansion and land reclamation initiatives, the demand for dredged sand has skyrocketed. This creates incentives for illegal dredging, which further complicates oversight and disrupts river dredging operations intended for legitimate infrastructure development.
Regional Differences in Africa
While dredging in Nigeria faces its localized challenges, other African nations also struggle with similar yet context-specific issues. In East Africa, for example, fluctuating lake levels and sedimentation affect inland port operations. In West Africa, rising sea levels have accelerated the need for coastal erosion control, particularly in countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone.
These shared challenges highlight the need for collaborative efforts, shared technologies, and investment in capacity building across the continent.
The Way Forward
Despite these obstacles, opportunities for improvement remain. By investing in modern dredging technology and skilled labor, Nigeria and its neighbors can better tackle both routine and emergency projects. Creating unified regulatory frameworks and enforcing strict environmental standards will help ensure that waterway infrastructure development is sustainable and community-friendly.
Additionally, incorporating local expertise and involving affected communities in decision-making processes can lead to better project outcomes and reduced conflict. Through these efforts, dredging can serve as a foundation for environmental resilience, economic growth, and regional cooperation.
Conclusion
To overcome these regional challenges, Dredge Flow offers tailored dredging operations and solutions designed for the unique conditions of Nigeria and broader African waterways. By combining durable dredging equipment with on-ground expertise, we help streamline river dredging operations, improve coastal erosion control, and support sustainable waterway infrastructure development. Our goal is to provide cost-effective, long-term dredging strategies that enable governments and private sectors to maintain safe, navigable, and environmentally stable water bodies across the continent.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) recently hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Company Limited, a leading Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to advance discussions on deepening bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, and development financing between both countries.
The Newryton delegation, led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, had earlier engaged with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). They were accompanied to the NCSP by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed NACCIMA’s support for the delegation’s engagements.
Discussions centered on the establishment of a Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including a proposed Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian products, investors, and state governments.
The consortium also presented opportunities within Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port (FTP), which offers preferential policies that Nigerian businesses can leverage to expand exports and attract new investments.
In his address on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong outlined plans to collaborate with NCSP in accessing FOCAC-supported financing for strategic investments in agriculture, energy, mining, solid minerals processing, and related sectors. The delegation identified aquaculture as a key area of interest and referenced the forthcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, encouraging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
They also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in vocational training and employment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Director-General, Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
He highlighted NCSP’s strong interest in the proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform and the development of the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a flagship demonstration project.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, underscored the opportunities presented by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on the export of Nigerian aquaculture products. She noted that these frameworks would significantly enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging global markets.
Both parties expressed commitment to advancing discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering all priority areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), established in 2019 as part of a 16-year legacy of UK-funded infrastructure support to Nigeria, convened over 100 senior stakeholders on Tuesday, December 2, to review its progress and formally close out its current phase of operations.
The event brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and the private sector to reflect on UKNIAF’s work across the power, infrastructure finance, and roads sectors. Discussions focused on institutional reforms, capacity development, and the sustainability of tools and processes introduced over the past six years.
Since inception, UKNIAF has delivered targeted technical assistance designed to embed evidence-based reforms, data-driven decision-making, and improved institutional performance. Its interventions have mobilised significant financing, strengthened regulatory and planning systems, and enhanced investor readiness across multiple infrastructure markets.
In the power sector, participants highlighted landmark achievements including the development of Nigeria’s first Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines a least-cost and low-carbon pathway for expanding electricity supply. UKNIAF also supported the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in building advanced real-time data capabilities for tariff monitoring, grid management, and outage tracking. The programme enabled pioneering states to establish their own electricity markets following constitutional reforms.
In infrastructure finance, UKNIAF was recognised for strengthening project preparation systems and enabling access to capital. Notable accomplishments include supporting the mobilisation of $75 million from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in two states, and accelerating mini-grid and solar deployment through improved technical standards at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
UKNIAF also designed a national project preparation facility, for which N21 billion was allocated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to build a pipeline of bankable projects.
Speaking on this, Mr Frank Edozie, UKNIAF Team Lead, described the programme’s close-out as a “handover for sustained delivery,” emphasising that strengthened institutions now hold tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, commended the programme, noting that its technical assistance and advisory services had helped lay the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry.
Mrs Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Corporation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, praised the partnership, highlighting achievements ranging from state-level electricity market reforms to unlocking major financing and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund.
Enugu State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, underscored the lasting influence of the programme, stating that UKNIAF’s impact continues through the expertise and leadership transferred to national and sub-national institutions.
The close-out event reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to sustaining tools, reforms, and knowledge products developed under UKNIAF, while strengthening collaboration among public, private, and development actors in the infrastructure ecosystem.
Participants included federal and state agencies such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Federal Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, REA, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IFC, as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has been slashed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Lagos-based oil facility brought down the ex-depot price of the petroleum product by 15.58 per cent or N129 per litre to N828 per litre.
Though the company had yet to release an official statement on this development, real-time market data on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed the new price.
Punch reports that data from the platform also showed fresh reductions across several private depots following the refinery’s latest review.
Sigmund Depot cut its ex-depot price by N4 to N824 per litre, Bulk Strategic dropped its price by N3, and TechnoOil slashed its by N15.
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