President Bola Tinubu has called for improved African countries’ commitment to the development of their nation’s maritime sector through the provision of critical infrastructure and investing in the ports towards facilitating cross-border trade in the continent.
The President, who gave this charge on Monday in Lagos while declaring open the 43rd Annual Council Meeting and 18th Roundtable of Managing Directors Exhibition of the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), said full automation and development of the ports would make African ports more relevant and competitive in the global maritime economic space.
Tinubu, who was represented at the event with the theme “The Role of Ports in the African continental Free Trade Area” by the Minister of Maritime and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, said: “African countries must seek solutions to the challenges facing ports authorities. Ports operation needs a lot of intervention by the governments, there is need to invest in infrastructure to promote trade among member-states
“Full automation of the ports is the way to go to be relevant and competitive in the global maritime economy. Africans must work towards solving the socio-economic problems facing the continent; we must work together for the common good of the people”, he added.
While pointing out that total integration of Africa is inevitable for the overall development of the continent, the President explained that his administration created the Ministry of Maritime and Blue Economy because of his interest in the maritime industry and commended the Ministry and the NPA for hosting the conference.
Earlier in his remarks, Oyetola said Nigeria remained the home to all Africans in terms of regional cooperation and collaboration particularly in the maritime sector, stressing the need for continental integration towards exploiting the maritime economy.
In his speech, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the growth and economic development of the countries in Africa largely depended on the sustainable growth and efficient ports operation.
According to him, the marine competitive advantages are more pressing now than ever before and commended the new administration for creating the Ministry of Maritime and Blue Economy as part of its reform initiatives to grow the nation’s economy and create wealth for the citizenry.
Bello-Koko, who also commended PMAWCA for sustaining the annual council meetings which have been veritable platforms for collaboration by chief executives of the various ports, said that “competition or competitiveness is good and healthy but cooperation among ports managers is better and will help to consolidate the gains in the maritime sector.”
