Africa Must Modernize Ports to Seize Maritime Opportunities

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), stated that Africa cannot achieve sustainable economic growth without modernized port infrastructure. He made this declaration during the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) meeting held in Lagos.

Dantsoho praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for their leadership in repositioning Nigeria's maritime industry. He emphasized that no nation can significantly grow its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) without expanding and modernizing its port systems.

Dantsoho noted that countries in the sub-region, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Benin Republic, are already investing in port upgrades. He highlighted Nigeria's ongoing rehabilitation of the Apapa and Tin Island ports and the significance of the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a milestone.

Dantsoho insisted that Africa needs large-scale investments similar to those in Singapore to compete effectively in the global maritime sector. He also mentioned that Nigeria currently handles 70% of cargo traffic in the West and Central African sub-region.