The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has called for deeper regional integration among West and Central African nations to strengthen port operations, enhance trade facilitation, and eliminate barriers limiting maritime growth.
The call was made by the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who also serves as the President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), during the 45th Annual Council Meeting and 20th Managing Directors’ Roundtable held in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.
Dantsoho stressed that regional unity and collaboration were critical to unlocking the region’s maritime potential and driving sustainable economic progress. He described the maritime sector as a key instrument for trade facilitation and Africa’s full economic integration.
The conference, themed “Reinventing Port Zones Management: Towards Sustainable and Resilient Valorization of Port Infrastructure, Tackling Economic and Environmental Challenges,” brought together over 350 delegates, including government officials and industry experts from across Africa and beyond.
According to Dantsoho, the region’s abundant maritime resources remain underutilized due to poor infrastructure and fragmented policies. He noted that resilient infrastructure, digitalization, and cooperation were essential to improve competitiveness and reduce economic losses.
He outlined key focus areas under his administration, including climate and energy adaptation, data collaboration, and risk management. He urged member states to develop robust policies to maximize their blue economy potential for regional prosperity.
Represented by the General Manager of Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, Dantsoho reiterated the NPA’s commitment to advancing dialogue on climate action, business continuity, and digital innovation through PMAWCA’s technical committees.
He acknowledged that while physical borders divide nations, shared waters should serve as a unifying factor for collective economic advancement. He also commended the Republic of Congo and the Port Authority of Pointe-Noire for hosting the regional gathering.
Dantsoho concluded by reaffirming PMAWCA’s pledge to pursue policy implementation, regional cooperation, and trade facilitation to eliminate barriers and strengthen Africa’s maritime competitiveness.
