Abubakar Dantsoho, the managing director (MD) of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has asked member nations of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) to strengthen regional collaboration to harness Africa’s maritime potential.
Speaking at the 45th annual council meeting of the association in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, on Wednesday, Dantsoho said this would drive socio-economic growth in Africa through the blue economy.
According to a statement, the managing director, who is also the president of the PMAWCA, said the subregion’s shared destiny, natural resources and maritime advantages should serve as unifying forces for sustainable development.
Represented by Ikechukwu Onyemekara, NPA’s general manager of corporate affairs, the NPA chief said the association is prioritising climate and energy, data collaboration, and risk resilience as key pillars for transforming Africa’s port operations.
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He said at the World Port Conference in Japan, African port leaders pledged to drive growth through a three-pronged strategy focused on policy implementation, renewed cooperation and trade facilitation — adding that the NPA remains determined to uphold the commitment.
“The waters that connect our countries remind us of our duty to work together for the good of all,” Dantsoho said.
The managing director urged participants to see themselves as custodians of Africa’s economic future, adding that resilient port infrastructure, improved security, and transparency remain crucial to competitiveness and integration across the continent.
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The PMAWCA president also commended the government and people of the Republic of Congo for hosting the meeting and praised the association’s secretariat for sustaining a platform that fosters cross-regional dialogue and innovation in maritime governance.
