Burutu and the Treasures of the Niger Delta Blue Economy

The blue economy opportunities from the planned rehabilitation and upgrade of the Burutu seaport are huge. This will also impact countries like Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. There is already a large warehouse at the dock for repair and maintenance of light vessels. Its close distance to crude oil terminals in Forcados and Excravos means oil-bearing vessels and light barges can easily use the existing shipyard facilities.

The trip to Warri was smooth. It was surprisingly not raining, and I was happy to escape the constant rains in Rivers State. As we drove along the quiet East West road, we crossed many bridges and sped through the historical towns of Ahoada, Mbiama, and Kiama. I remembered the story of how the road began and the sad death of the famous trumpeter and musician, Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson, who died in 1971 in an accident on the Asaba-Benin road. He was on his way to perform in Warri. I arrived in Warri early that evening to rest before what turned out to be a busy week.

I was excited about our trip to Burutu, so I got to our meeting point at Warri Club before the other members of our group. It did not take long for everyone to arrive. Once the leader of our group, Massimo de Luca, Head of Partnerships at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, showed up, we lined up to wear our life jackets, getting ready to set off. The boat was a decent houseboat with an operator who looked experienced and professional. I noticed four people supporting the boat driver. I was not sure what their roles were, but they talked to the driver as we sped off.

The ride to the Burutu seaport took about forty-three minutes. The river was calm, but our boat bounced a bit, especially when another boat came by. The skilled operator slowed down each time he saw another boat to lessen the waves' impact on us. As our boat moved through the creeks, we saw beautiful mangroves stretching for miles. It was a lovely sight. Other passenger boats passed by, carrying people and goods from the communities, likely heading to the market.

When we arrived, we saw that the historic port is mostly inactive, although some activities are still happening. We learned that it was first opened in 1887 as one of Nigeria’s earliest seaports on the Forcados River in the Niger Delta. It used to be an important colonial trading post and a major hub for exporting agricultural products like palm oil, timber, and groundnuts. It also offered shipbuilding and repair services. We found out that the Nigerian Civil War hurt its operations, causing a big decline. The blockade during the war targeted ports linked to the secessionist region to cut off supplies. But in 2023, the facility was given to Akewa Colmar Terminal Limited to help upgrade infrastructure and operations.

There are plans to revive the port and make it a key terminal for solid minerals and regional trade. It is now part of the Sealink project, which aims to connect coastal and inland waterways in Nigeria. Our visit to Burutu was part of the European Union’s efforts to bring the port back to life. Through the West African Sustainable Ocean Project (WASOP), the European Union is providing technical support to the Sealink project to ensure it presents a good business case that can attract investors. The Sealink project aims to transport bulk cargo from Lagos through the coastal route to Burutu port, moving up the River Niger to Onitsha and Ajaokuta.

The blue economy opportunities from the planned rehabilitation and upgrade of the Burutu seaport are huge. This will also impact countries like Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. There is already a large warehouse at the dock for repair and maintenance of light vessels. Its close distance to crude oil terminals in Forcados and Excravos means oil-bearing vessels and light barges can easily use the existing shipyard facilities. There is also a tank farm that was previously for palm oil export, now being proposed for petroleum storage for both coastal and inland vessels.

The port is set to improve traffic by supporting better coastal cargo distribution to various coastal and inland ports. Its location near the waterways, along with plans for a 50-kilometre rail and road link to the existing road and rail network at the steel company in Warri, will help.

The blue economy can provide another source of revenue beyond oil for the Niger Delta and Nigeria. As we started our journey back to Warri, I thought about what we need to do as a region and country to build the right structures to develop the sector in the coming years. Revamping and rehabilitating the Burutu seaport could be a good start.

Later, our group visited the palace of the King at Ofoegbene community, where we were warmly welcomed by His Royal Majesty Pere Bosu Dio, Ayamabulou 1, the Pere of Iduwini Delta Kingdom. He hosted us with His Royal Highness IB Ojukosun of Aghoro 11 community in Bayelsa State. Many coastal communities surround the port area, stretching to River Ramos and Bayelsa State, yet they share a common heritage and ancestry. We then travelled to the Agge community by the Atlantic Ocean, which took another forty minutes.

The unique geography and beautiful landscape of the Niger Delta impressed me. The lovely shorelines of rivers, streams, and swamps offer chances for eco-tourism. The long stretch of mangroves can be used to create carbon credits for projects in these coastal communities. Coastal communities in Kenya already earn a living through similar projects. I was also surprised by how the many fishing communities along the creeks set up ponds for fish farming.

The blue economy can provide another source of revenue beyond oil for the Niger Delta and Nigeria. As we started our journey back to Warri, I thought about what we need to do as a region and country to build the right structures to develop the sector in the coming years. Revamping and rehabilitating the Burutu seaport could be a good start.