Uche Cecil Izuroa
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has been elected Vice-President for Africa of the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
This significant appointment highlights Nigeria’s enhanced role in the global maritime industry.
The IAPH, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the leading global trade association representing seaports worldwide since its inception in 1955. Dr. Dantsoho’s election, decided at a meeting in Tokyo, follows his landmark achievement as the first Nigerian to lead the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) since 1972.
Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager of Corporate and Strategic Communications at NPA, confirmed the election as recognition of Nigeria’s revitalized leadership in maritime development. IAPH Secretary-General Masahiko Furuichi also expressed enthusiasm about working closely with Dantsoho in the coming years.
Under Dantsoho’s leadership, NPA has recorded notable operational successes, including a 19.59% increase in non-oil exports to $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, with export volumes rising to 4.04 million metric tonnes on NPA-managed platforms. These achievements have contributed to Nigeria attaining a trade surplus, as acknowledged by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
IAPH represents a global network of more than 190 seaports and 167 port-related businesses across 89 countries, collectively managing over 60% of the world’s seaborne trade and container traffic. The association plays a crucial role in global maritime policy, collaborating with organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Customs Organization (WCO), and the United Nations.
Dr. Dantsoho’s new role strengthens Nigeria’s influence in shaping international seaport policies, promoting trade efficiency, port resilience, and sustainable growth within the nation’s maritime sector.