The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said that ongoing efforts on the modernization of the nation’s ports are aimed at increasing Nigeria’s container traffic from the current two million containers per year to over seven million annually.
Dantsoho, who disclosed this during his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports and estimated that the modernization initiatives would cost millions of dollars, also stressed the need for advanced infrastructure, technology integration, and stakeholders’ collaboration to position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
Speaking during his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports, Dantsoho reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to transforming Nigerian ports into a regional hub, stressing that “these are key steps to meeting the demands of Nigeria’s large population and thriving economy”.
He also described the visit to the Lagos Ports as in alignment with the tradition for newly appointed CEOs of the NPA to assess port operations and interact with stakeholders.
According to him, the visit to the Lagos Ports was the first he is making in his familiarization tours to the nation’s ports based on the fact that Lagos is the largest part of NPA’s operations, contributing significantly to the nation’s economy through revenues and other value-addition to the blue economy.
Reflecting on the port reforms of 2006, Dantsoho highlighted a shift in NPA’s focus from cargo handling to ship-side operations, with private terminal operators supervising the cargo management.
On the volume of cargo at the ports, 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 Maersk Line which currently delivers only 500,000 containers to Nigeria annually out of their seven million global containers”, the NPA boss added.
Dantsoho also hinted of the ongoing efforts of the NPA to secure Federal Government’s approval for port modernization project as well as dredging activities and enhanced technological integration worth millions of dollars, which are in progress.
The industry expert said: “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”.
The NPA boss also highlighted Nigeria’s oil and gas advantage, with Onne Port serving as a hub for offshore oil logistics, and harped on the need to expand container cargo operations in order to transform the country into the regional leader in maritime trade.
Dantsoho also hinted that the nation’s renewed bid for Category C membership in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was aimed at underscoring Nigeria’s 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.
On the plans of the NPA management to ensure that the Authority achieve its goals, the Managing Director maintained: “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”.
