Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has announced an ambitious plan to increase container traffic from the current 2 million containers per year to over 7 million, as part of a broader modernization effort which would cost millions of dollars.
Speaking during his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports on Wednesday, Dr. Dantsoho emphasized the need for advanced infrastructure, technology integration, and stakeholder collaboration to position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
Dr. Dantsoho reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to transforming Nigerian ports into a regional hub during his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports. He also emphasized the importance of modernizing port infrastructure and adopting advanced technology to increase efficiency and container traffic.
According to him, these are key steps to meeting the demands of Nigeria’s large population and thriving economy.
The NPA boss outlined the strategic significance of the visit, noting its alignment with the tradition for newly appointed Managing Directors to assess port operations and interact with stakeholders.
“Lagos is the largest part of NPA’s operations, contributing significantly to the economy, so it is natural to begin here before extending to the eastern ports,” he explained.
Reflecting on the port reforms of 2006, Dr. Dantsoho highlighted a shift in NPA’s focus from cargo handling to ship-side operations, with private terminal operators taking charge of cargo management.
He acknowledged the need for further investments in port infrastructure and cargo handling equipment.
“We handle only two million containers annually; a number insufficient for a country with over 200 million people. By comparison, Lagos State alone could justify far higher volumes,” Dr. Dantsoho noted, even as he stressed the need for port modernization to attract global shipping giants, like Meaesk Line which currently delivers only 500,000 containers to Nigeria annually out of their seven million global containers.
The NPA boss also confirmed ongoing efforts to secure federal government’s approval for a port modernization project worth millions of dollars. Additionally, dredging activities and enhanced technological integration are in progress, he 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,” he disclosed.
Dr Dantsoho also highlighted Nigeria’s oil and gas advantage, with Onne Port serving as a hub for offshore oil logistics. Yet, he emphasized the urgent need to expand container cargo operations to position Nigeria as the regional leader in maritime trade.
Dr. Dantsoho revealed Nigeria’s renewed bid for Category C membership in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), underscoring its significance for global influence and maritime trade growth. He noted strategic efforts to garner support from the West and Central Africa (PMOWCA), where Nigeria recently secured the chairmanship, gaining regional allies in the campaign.
He equally expressed optimism about achieving the NPA’s goals. “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,” he concluded.
