Dantsoho Advocates for Modern Port Infrastructure in Africa

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), stated that Africa cannot achieve meaningful economic growth without modernized port infrastructure.

Speaking at a PMAWCA meeting in Lagos, he urged countries in West and Central Africa to invest in modern port technologies and deep-sea facilities to remain competitive in global trade. Dantsoho commended President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola for their policies aimed at repositioning Nigeria's maritime sector.

He noted that no country can expand its GDP without modernizing its port industry, which requires significant investment. Dantsoho mentioned Nigeria's efforts to refurbish the Apapa and Tin Island ports and highlighted the Lekki deep-sea port as a step towards accommodating future trade volumes.

He stressed the importance of technology and automation in improving maritime operations and noted that Nigeria handles 70% of cargo traffic in the West and Central African sub-region.