By Oluyinka Onigbinde
As Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho marks two years at the helm of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), his administration can point to significant milestones in infrastructure renewal, digital transformation and improved operational performance. Yet, while many stakeholders acknowledge that the Authority has made appreciable progress in repositioning Nigeria’s seaports, there is also a growing consensus that the next phase of his leadership should place greater emphasis on stakeholder engagement, communication and industry visibility.
When President Bola Tinubu appointed the career port administrator as Managing Director in July 2024, expectations were high. Having risen through the ranks of the Authority over nearly three decades, Dantsoho was widely regarded as a technocrat with deep institutional knowledge and practical understanding of Nigeria’s port system.
Two years on, the verdict from industry observers is largely that of a quiet reformer—one more inclined to allow projects and policies speak than public appearances.
Perhaps the administration’s biggest achievement has been breathing fresh life into the long-awaited Port Modernisation Programme, a project expected to transform ageing port infrastructure across Apapa, Tin Can Island, Rivers, Warri, Calabar and other ports. The programme has moved from years of policy discussions to procurement and implementation stages under his watch, signalling the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to upgrading Nigeria’s ports.
The Authority has equally intensified efforts towards digitalisation. Under Dantsoho, the NPA accelerated implementation of the Port Community System (PCS), a critical building block for the National Single Window initiative aimed at simplifying cargo clearance, reducing documentation bottlenecks and improving trade facilitation. The Authority has also expanded electronic access control systems and continued improvements to the Eto electronic truck call-up system to ease traffic around the Lagos ports.
Operationally, the numbers have also been encouraging.
NPA’s operational reports indicate significant growth in cargo throughput, container traffic and export volumes, reflecting increased confidence in Nigerian ports and the impact of ongoing efficiency measures. The Authority has also recorded improved revenue performance, driven largely by higher cargo volumes and digital reforms.
Beyond domestic operations, Dantsoho has elevated Nigeria’s profile within the global maritime community. During his tenure, he emerged as President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), while Nigeria has also strengthened its participation in international port governance institutions, reinforcing the country’s regional maritime influence.
Internally, the administration has earned commendation for improving staff welfare, addressing long-standing promotion issues and maintaining industrial harmony within the Authority.
However, while the achievements are widely acknowledged, industry stakeholders believe there is still room to strengthen the Authority’s relationship with those it serves.
One recurring observation across the maritime community is that the administration has maintained a relatively low public profile.
Unlike previous NPA leaderships that institutionalised periodic engagements with the media, freight forwarders, shipping companies, terminal operators and other port users, such interactions have become almost dead or less frequent over the past two years.
Many operators believe regular engagement is not merely about publicity, but an important governance tool for explaining policy directions, obtaining industry feedback and building confidence around major reforms such as the Port Modernisation Programme and digital transformation initiatives.
For an agency at the centre of Nigeria’s international trade, stakeholders say structured dialogue with industry players remains essential.
The implementation of the Port Modernisation Programme itself also presents another opportunity for broader engagement.
With reconstruction expected to affect port operations in phases, operators are looking forward to more regular updates on project timelines, sequencing of works and measures being put in place to minimise operational disruptions. Greater communication, many believe, will help sustain investor confidence as the ambitious programme progresses.
Industry analysts also suggest that the NPA could benefit from reviving periodic stakeholders’ forums and media interactions, which have historically served as platforms for addressing operational concerns, explaining reforms and fostering collaboration among regulators, terminal operators, shipping lines and freight forwarders.
For many observers, these are less criticisms than opportunities to consolidate the gains already recorded.
Indeed, Dantsoho’s leadership style has been widely described as measured, technical and results-oriented. But as the Authority enters what many consider the most critical phase of port modernisation and digital transformation, stakeholders believe complementing technical reforms with more robust public engagement could further strengthen confidence in its direction.
As Nigeria positions itself to compete more effectively with neighbouring ports in West and Central Africa, the next chapter of the Dantsoho administration may ultimately be judged not only by the infrastructure delivered or cargo volumes recorded, but also by how effectively it carries industry stakeholders along in the reform journey.
For now, after two years in office, the scorecard reflects a leadership that has laid important foundations for long-term transformation. The challenge ahead may well be to ensure that the conversation around those reforms is as visible as the reforms themselves.
