Tinubu Presents Dantosho With Award of Excellence in Port Infrastructure Modernisation

Oriarehu Bonny

The Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has been recognised and decorated with the Award of “Excellence in Maritime Infrastructure Modernization & Global Competitiveness,”

Dantsoho was recognised at the flagship Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja over the weekend

The prestigious NAEPS Award which is a presidential initiative coordinated by the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation publicly recognises and decorates public servants who have demonstrated excellence in the discharge of their duties.

Dantsoho was recognised amongst other sterling performance scorecard for deepening of efficiencies that catalysed the attainment of national trade surplus through unprecedented growth in exports, setting the pace for the National Single Window (NSW) through the Port Community System (PCS), being at the forefront of galvanising the global investors’ interest in the modernisation of Nigerian ports infrastructure and equipment as well as growing influence of Nigeria in the comity of Maritime nations evidenced by Nigeria’s presidency of the Port Management Association of West Africa (PMAWCA), Vice- Presidency of the International Association for Ports & Harbours (IAPH) and the supportive role under the guidance of the  Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola for Nigeria’s re-enlistment into the Influential “Category C” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Nigeria recorded a historic victory last week, when the country was elected into Category C of the IMO Council for the 2026–2027 biennium. The election, held during the IMO General Assembly in London, marks Nigeria’s triumphant return to the Council after a 14-year absence, restoring the nation to global reckoning among the comity of maritime nations.

Oyetola, who led Nigeria’s campaign, said the victory crowns over twelve months of intensive diplomacy shuttles, targeted engagements and sustained advocacy across various countries and maritime blocs.

Speaking moments after the results were declared, Oyetola described Nigeria’s election as “a landmark endorsement of the renewed confidence the world has in Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” 

According to him, “This victory is not just for Nigeria; it is a vote of confidence in our maritime reforms, our security efforts in the Gulf of Guinea, and the bold vision of His Excellency President Tinubu to unlock the full potential of the blue economy.”