By Our Correspondent in Lagos.
The President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA)/ Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr.Abubakar Dantsoho, (Right) and Secretary-General of PMAWCA Mr Koffi Jean-Marie at the ongoing Meeting of the Board of Directors of (PMAWCA) in Luanda – Angola..
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), has urged African countries to transform their vast marine resources into drivers of collective economic growth and prosperity.
Dantsoho made this call during the PMAWCA Board of Directors and Ports Statisticians Network Meetings held in Luanda, Angola. His remarks were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mr. Okechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager, Corporate Communication and Strategy at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Dantsoho, who also serves as the Managing Director of the NPA, emphasized that the sustainability of the African continent is closely tied to the resilience and operational viability of its seaports.
“African countries—especially in West and Central Africa—are connected not just by waterways, but by common challenges and emerging opportunities,” he said. “There is no better time than now to convert our marine advantages into meaningful, shared opportunities for economic development.”
He highlighted the strategic importance of seaports in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring their role as gateways to economic transformation.
Reaffirming a message he had earlier delivered to the PMAWCA Women Network in Lagos, Dantsoho said the region’s countries are united by shared struggles and untapped potential. He warned that failure to collaborate would only stall regional progress.
Describing the Ports Statisticians Network as a model for effective regional synergy, he stressed the importance of data in driving smart, impactful decisions in port operations.
Dantsoho praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as a landmark move to advance Nigeria’s maritime sector. He said the new ministry has invigorated efforts to build human capacity and foster innovation through platforms like PMAWCA.
“The Ministry’s creation has catalyzed bold maritime initiatives and fostered better investment in sector-specific skills and technologies,” he said.
He also underscored the need for modernising African ports through the adoption of systems such as the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window (NSW), reiterating Nigeria’s strong commitment to fully implementing the NSW soon.
Referencing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Dantsoho noted that the agreement offers immense potential for removing trade barriers, boosting intra-African commerce, and creating wealth across the continent.
He commended the unity and collaboration within PMAWCA, saying it was critical for national development and the broader goal of regional economic transformation.
Dantsoho added that the board meeting in Luanda would also serve to review PMAWCA’s 2024 activities, including deliberations on strategy, budget, and key recommendations for the future.
