NPA Celebrates MV Ocean Dragon Maiden Voyage in Support of ‘Nigeria First’ Policy

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s maritime industry, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting indigenous ownership of shipping vessels, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy under the Renewed Hope agenda.

The journey towards indigenous maritime empowerment was highlighted during the maiden call of the wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel MV Ocean Dragon at the West African Container Terminal, Onne Port Complex, yesterday, July 31, 2025, as NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho emphasized the vessel’s symbolic and strategic importance.

“MV Ocean Dragon is wholly Nigerian, which speaks to the Renewed Hope ‘Nigeria First’ policy of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Dantsoho stated.

“It reflects our orientation toward Nigerian content development and indigenous enterprise”, he added.

With a loading capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), the vessel owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, is poised to revolutionize short-sea shipping across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

It also symbolizes a strategic deepening of port-hinterland connectivity and regional trade.  Applauding the vessel’s role in enhancing the nation’s multimodal transport framework, Dantsoho explained that its operation aligns with international benchmarks set by the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH).

This is even as he pointed to the growing relevance of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) in bridging hinterland producers with global demand centres; as a component of the improving state of modernization, investment, and a rising port driven business climate.

The NPA CEO linked the vessel’s launch to ongoing reforms and port modernization efforts aimed at maintaining trade surpluses and strengthening investor confidence.

He notes that these efforts come alongside notable growth in transshipment volumes at the Lekki Deep Seaport and expanded trade indicators reported by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

“Forward-looking investments like MV Ocean Dragon will have a transformative impact on our trade trajectory and deepen Nigeria’s blue economy,” Dantsoho said.

Giving a breakdown of its projected trade voyage exclusively structured as a Pan-African shipping concern, the vessel is scheduled to serve ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, and South Africa—bolstering Nigeria’s role in regional logistics and trade connectivity.

Dantsoho reiterated, the Nigerian Ports Authority, under the supervision of the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, remains dedicated to easing business operations and cultivating an investor-friendly maritime sector.

He said the MV Ocean Dragon isn’t just a ship but a symbol of Nigerian ambition, innovation, and sovereignty on the high seas.