**Nigeria and UK Seal £746m Deal to Overhaul Lagos Ports, Boost Maritime Efficiency** In a significant move to strengthen bilateral economic ties, Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a landmark £746 million infrastructure financing agreement aimed at revamping two of Nigeria's busiest seaports in Lagos. The deal is expected to improve maritime efficiency, reduce trade bottlenecks, and boost the country's position as a leading maritime hub for West and Central Africa. The financing arrangement will fund the comprehensive rehabilitation and modernisation of the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex, two critical gateways that handle a large share of Nigeria's international cargo traffic. **UK Export Finance, the United Kingdom's export credit agency, is guaranteeing the loan through its Buyer Credit Facility, with Citibank coordinating and arranging the financing through its London branch.** The project will be implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Finance. Officials said the redevelopment will introduce modern port infrastructure, digitalised cargo handling systems, and automated operational processes designed to dramatically improve cargo clearance timelines and reduce congestion that has long plagued Nigeria's busiest ports. Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, *Adegboyega Oyetola*, described the initiative as a major milestone in the federal government's strategy to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria's marine and blue economy. According to him, the modernisation effort will transform port operations, shorten vessel turnaround time, and drastically reduce cargo dwell periods as manual and paperwork-heavy procedures are replaced with automated systems. The project is expected to strengthen Nigeria's position as a leading maritime hub for West and Central Africa by expanding port capacity and improving operational efficiency. Additionally, the deal will provide significant commercial opportunities for British companies, with at least £236 million of the project's supply contracts expected to go to UK-based firms. British Steel will deliver 120,000 tonnes of steel billets to construction giants Hitech Construction Africa Ltd and ITB Nigeria, which are involved in executing the port redevelopment. The supply contract, valued at £70 million, represents the largest export order supported by UK Export Finance for British Steel and one of the biggest billet contracts in the company's history. UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, *Peter Kyle*, said the agreement demonstrates the strength of the UK–Nigeria economic partnership and reflects growing global demand for British industrial expertise. The deal is part of a broader effort to deepen trade ties between the two countries and promote economic growth in Nigeria.