The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has outlined key priorities aimed at repositioning African ports for greater efficiency and global competitiveness following his inauguration as Vice President (Africa) of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
Dantsoho, who was inaugurated during the recently concluded World Ports Conference held in Kobe City, Japan, said his focus will be on effective policy implementation, stronger regional collaboration, improved trade facilitation, and enhanced institutional cooperation among African port authorities.
The conference, which had the theme “Reinvention and Prosperity in Turbulent Times,” brought together global port leaders to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in the maritime sector.
Dantsoho noted that while African ports play a vital role in international trade, they still grapple with infrastructure gaps, policy inconsistencies, and limited adoption of technology. He said addressing these issues through collective regional action will be central to his leadership agenda at the IAPH.
“This responsibility has fired up my resolve more than ever before to be the vanguard of galvanising national and regional policy actions geared towards institutionalising ports’ eco-friendliness in line with the dictates of IAPH’s World Ports Sustainability Program,” he stated.
He explained that achieving prosperity in the face of global uncertainty requires innovation, collaboration, and sustainable investments across Africa’s maritime value chain.
“Reinvention and prosperity in turbulent times through the deployment of port innovativeness to capture tangible, sustainable investment returns in high-risk environments is a global exigency that can best be achieved if IAPH members speak with one voice through renewed collaboration and cooperation,” Dantsoho added.
The NPA boss also revealed that he would leverage his current position as President of the Pan-African Association for Port Cooperation (PAPC) to drive deeper engagement among African ports, particularly in the area of full automation, which he described as critical to eliminating trade barriers and improving operational efficiency.
“Cognisant of the catalytic role of automation as the linchpin of port efficiency and sustainability, I intend to infuse greater action behind the necessity of full automation of African ports as the most veritable tool for eliminating barriers to trade,” he said.
Dantsoho’s appointment as IAPH Vice President (Africa) is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s influence within the continental maritime community and further advance efforts to align African ports with international best practices in sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness.
