Valentine Okafor
The Managing- Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, says there are ongoing efforts on broader modernization effort which would cost millions of dollars.
The efforts aims to increase Nigeria’s container traffic from the current 2 million containers per year to over 7 million.
Dantsoho, who disclosed during his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports, also stated the need for advanced infrastructure, technology integration, and stakeholder collaboration to position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
During his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports, Dantsoho reaffirmed the Nigerian Ports Authority’s commitment to transforming Nigerian ports into a regional hub.
He further disclosed the importance of modernizing port infrastructure and adopting advanced technology to increase efficiency and container traffic.
He is quoted as saying that: “These are key steps to meeting the demands of Nigeria’s large population and thriving economy”.
Besides this, the Managing-Director took time out to explain the strategic significance of the visit, which is in alignment with the tradition for newly appointed Managing- Directors to assess port operations and interact with stakeholders.
In line with the belief that Lagos is the largest part of Nigerian Ports Authority’s operations, which is contributing significantly to the economy, he explained that it is natural to begin the tour in Lagos before extending to the eastern ports.
In his reflection on the port reforms of 2006, Dr. Dantsoho highlighted a shift in NPA’s focus from cargo handling to ship-side operations, with private terminal operators taking charge of cargo management.
Aside from this, he acknowledged the need for further investments in port infrastructure and cargo handling equipment.
He said: “We handle only two million containers annually, the number is insufficient for a country with over 200 million people.
By comparison, Lagos state alone could justify far higher volumes. There is need for port modernization to attract global shipping giants, like Mearsk Line which currently delivers only 500,000 containers to Nigeria annually out of their seven million global containers”.
He also confirmed the ongoing efforts to secure federal government’s approval for port modernization project worth millions of dollars, in addition to dredging activities and enhanced technological integration which are in progress.
In his words: “We are striving for full electronic integration through the Port Community System, which will advance into a National Single Window system, enhancing efficiency and transparency”.
He highlighted Nigeria’s oil and gas advantage, with Onne port serving as a hub for offshore oil logistics, while emphasizing the urgent need to expand container cargo operations to position Nigeria as the regional leader in maritime trade.
Apart from this, Dr. Dantsoho revealed that Nigeria’s renewed bid for Category C membership in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), underscoring its significance for global influence and maritime trade growth.
He noted strategic efforts to garner support from Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), where Nigeria recently secured the chairmanship, gaining regional allies in the campaign.
At the end, he expressed optimism about achieving the NPA’s goals.
He said further: “We aim to leverage our natural advantages and improve infrastructure to accommodate more container traffic. This will boost Nigeria’s economic growth and solidify our status as a maritime hub for West and Central Africa”.
