BUA Group Commits $85 Million to Expand Port Harcourt Terminal

BUA Group, the Nigerian conglomerate chaired by billionaire industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu, is investing **$85 million** to expand its Port Harcourt port terminal in a move aimed at strengthening its logistics network and supporting the rapid growth of its food manufacturing business.

The expansion will increase the terminal's capacity to handle more than 2 million tonnes of imported raw materials annually, reinforcing BUA's supply chain as demand for its sugar, flour, pasta, edible oils and other food products continues to rise.

Rabiu announced the investment during a visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), describing the project as a strategic step in the group's long-term plan to build world-class logistics infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed next year.

A major component of the expansion is the construction of an additional **600 metres of quay frontage**, which will enable the terminal to receive larger vessels and significantly boost cargo-handling capacity. Once completed, the facility will become a key entry point for raw materials feeding BUA Foods' growing operations in Port Harcourt.

The investment reflects a broader trend across Africa's manufacturing sector, where companies are increasingly investing in logistics infrastructure to improve supply chain resilience, lower transportation costs and enhance operational efficiency.

For BUA Group, the benefits extend well beyond its food business. The expanded terminal will also improve logistics for the company's cement, mining, infrastructure and other industrial operations, giving the conglomerate greater control over the movement of bulk cargo while reducing dependence on third-party port facilities.

The project is also expected to strengthen Nigeria's eastern maritime corridor. For decades, ports in the region have handled significantly less cargo than Lagos-based terminals, despite successive government initiatives aimed at distributing maritime traffic more evenly across the country.

According to Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director **Abubakar Dantsoho**, the expansion is expected to deliver double-digit growth in cargo throughput and revenue while enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria's port system. He added that increased cargo volumes would generate higher foreign exchange earnings, boost government revenues and stimulate wider economic activity.

The latest investment builds on BUA's earlier commitment to Port Harcourt following its concession of Rivers Port Terminal B, where the company has already invested heavily in modernising facilities and positioning the terminal as an alternative gateway for bulk cargo outside Lagos.

With congestion at Lagos ports continuing to increase logistics costs for manufacturers, investments in alternative port infrastructure have become increasingly important. Improved facilities along Nigeria's eastern corridor are expected to ease supply chain bottlenecks and enhance the efficiency of cargo movement across the country.

For BUA Group, expanding its own port infrastructure provides a significant strategic advantage. As its food manufacturing business continues to grow, the ability to efficiently import millions of tonnes of raw materials each year will strengthen the company's competitiveness while supporting Nigeria's broader industrial and economic development.