Africa Risks Missing Global Maritime Opportunities Without Modern Ports — Dantsoho

Juliet Akoje In Abuja

President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has warned that Africa cannot attain substantial economic growth with outdated port infrastructure, stressing that sustained investment in modern port facilities, technology and deep seaports has become imperative.

Dantsoho, who also serves as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said nations across West and Central Africa have reached a consensus on the need to upgrade and modernise their ports in order to remain competitive in international trade and receive larger vessels.

Speaking at the conclusion of PMAWCA meetings held in Lagos, Dantsoho praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for providing policy leadership aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s maritime industry.

He stated that port infrastructure is fundamental to economic development, emphasising that no nation can significantly grow its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) without expanding and modernising its port systems.

According to him, the maritime sector demands substantial capital investment, warning that countries cannot continue operating obsolete facilities while expecting to accommodate modern and larger ships.

Drawing an analogy, Dantsoho explained that just as an ageing hotel requires renovation to continue attracting customers, ports must also undergo periodic upgrades to meet changing industry demands.

He revealed that countries in the sub-region, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and the Benin Republic, are already repositioning their port infrastructure through various upgrade and modernisation initiatives.

The PMAWCA President disclosed that Nigeria is currently rehabilitating the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports as an interim measure, while stressing the urgent need for the country to develop additional deep seaports capable of handling future trade volumes.

He acknowledged the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a significant milestone, noting that despite its progress with two berths, Africa must aspire to establish larger and more advanced facilities capable of competing with leading global maritime hubs.

Referencing international examples, Dantsoho said Singapore is constructing ports with hundreds of berths, while Guinea is embarking on a $20 billion deep seaport project, insisting that similar large-scale investments are necessary if Africa hopes to compete effectively in the global maritime sector.

He also underscored the increasing importance of technology, automation, artificial intelligence and robotics in port management, maintaining that data-driven systems have become essential for effective and efficient maritime administration.

Dantsoho disclosed that the Nigerian Ports Authority has already attained nearly 90 per cent automation in its operations, adding that electronic payment systems and digital cargo processing have significantly enhanced operational efficiency.

He identified the electronic call-up system at Apapa Port as one of the major innovations that has substantially eased traffic congestion along the port access corridor.

According to him, vehicular movement around Apapa Port has improved considerably, noting that where motorists previously spent long hours and sometimes slept on bridges due to gridlock, access to and from the port area has now become significantly faster.

Dantsoho further stated that Nigeria currently handles more than 70 per cent of cargo traffic entering the West and Central African sub-region, attributing this to the country’s population size, vast market and strategic role in servicing landlocked neighbouring nations such as Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso.

He explained that Nigeria’s expansive consumer market and youthful population position the country for significant maritime and economic growth, provided adequate modern infrastructure is put in place.

He added that Nigeria’s port market extends beyond its borders, as several landlocked countries rely heavily on Nigerian ports, stressing the need for deeper waters, stronger quay structures and upgraded facilities capable of receiving larger vessels to sustain the country’s competitive advantage.

The PMAWCA President also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and peer review among African port authorities, noting that member nations are increasingly exchanging experiences, benchmarking performance and sharing strategies aimed at strengthening efficiency and competitiveness across the region.

Dantsoho maintained that the future of Africa’s economic growth will largely depend on how swiftly the continent’s maritime sector embraces infrastructure renewal, technological advancement and stronger regional integration to align with evolving global realities.