Dantsoho Targets Higher Trade Volume Through Ports, Seeks Increase From 2m Containers to 7m Annually
Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho yesterday in Lagos pledge more investment in port facility to further enhance efficiency, assuring terminal operators of support
He stated this when he undertook an operational tour of the Lagos Ports of Apapa and TinCan Island Port Complexes. The NPA boss who visited Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL) and APM Terminals, Apapa in the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa and also visited Tin Can Island, Lagos.
Speaking during the visit Dantsoho said “I would like to implore all terminal operators to take advantage of the investor-friendliness of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and put in more investment. Given Nigeria’s huge population, Nigerian Ports definitely deserve greater investment than what is currently obtainable.”
“In alignment with the World Ports Sustainability program, this Management is keen on Ports eco-friendliness, and we will insist on investor compliance with this global imperative. On our part as a regulator we assure you of all the facilitation necessary to protect your investment and guarantee return on investment.
“As you are aware, with the commitment of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, the NPA has concluded the final phase of the Port Community System (PCS) which will provide the linkage backbone for the forthcoming National Single Window (NSW) project”.
Dantsoho who was recently elected as the first ever Nigerian President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) stated further that “we must translate our vision of being the maritime logistics hub for sustainable Port services in Africa to reality as quickly as possible.
Speaking to newsmen, the NPA boss stated that the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports are important to the nation’s economy and to the authority, saying the authority is ready for the implementation of the Port Community System (PCS) and upgrade of the seaports through the port modernisation upgrade.
Dantsoho, further stated that Apapa Port is currently the number one port in Nigeria as it receive the highest number of containers in the country.
“Apapa Port is the number one port for the NPA and the federal government. Apapa Port received the highest number of containers in Nigeria because of APM Terminals.”
Speaking on port automation, the NPA helmsman said, “we will begin implementation of PCS. We will be on the same page with our terminal operators, other government agencies and our stakeholders. APM Terminals is 100 percent ready for the PCS and ABTL is almost ready.”
“All the terminals will have electronic integration, what is called the Port Community System, which will now advance into the National Single Window (NSW). This is a major project of the federal government and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who has been focused on that,” the MD stated.
The NPA boss further commended the terminal operators for their support through investment in the Nigerian economy.
The MD stated that the terminal operators are currently investing heavily in equipment and infrastructure but would want them to do more so that the government can acheive the aim of Port concessioning.
” Compared to the last 20 years, or even more, the reform that ended in 2006 was a clear departure from when NPA was doing both the cargo and the shipping part of the business. Right from 2006, NPA is structured in the way that we are concentrating on the ship side of the business, private sector are involved in the cargo handling, and the essence of bringing the terminal operators is for Nigeria to be able to have a more advanced infrastructure and equipment without using pubic sector fund.
So, if you bring in private sector practitioners, such as terminal operators, what is expected of them by Nigeria is for them to improve infrastructure and equipment, that is the key objective. And as you can see, we have achieved part of the aim,” Dr Dantsoho stated.
“You know, in Apapa, we have a company or terminal operators like APMT, like ABTL, and then at Tin Can, we have Five Star Logistics and others, they are doing their best to improve these two things I have mentioned, infrastructure and equipment.
“But, that is not to say that we are where we want to be or that we have achieved 100% of the goal we set out to achieve at the beginning of the day but, we are looking to see how we can improve the relationship, how we can integrate in a way that we can move faster and because of that, government is trying to see how it is going to be as soon as possible,” he stated.
The NPA boss who officially toured the port for the first time since he was appointed as the helmsman of the authority, said his next tour will be ports in the Eastern part of the country.
According to him, he toured the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Port to interact with NPA staff clearing agents and other port stakeholders.
“The tradition is that when you assume office as MD, or as board chairman of NPA, you are expected to go on tour of all facilities under your mandate. So, naturally, because Lagos is the bigger part of NPA, you start from Lagos, which is what we call the western ports. Then you now move to the Eastern ports, that is, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and all that.
“And then, even in Lagos, you start from Apapa, which is bigger than Tin-Can Island port. So, I think it’s just part of the tradition, and then to familiarize yourself with what is on ground and also to see people and have a discussion around how to move the organization forward.”
The NPA Managing Director also announced ambitious plans to increase container traffic from the current 2 million containers per year to over 7 million, as part of a broader modernization effort worth millions of dollars.
He 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 agency’s commitment to transforming Nigerian ports into a regional hub during his familiarization tour of Lagos Ports. He emphasized the importance of modernizing infrastructure and adopting advanced technology to increase efficiency and container traffic, key steps in 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 MDs 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. Operators such as APM Terminals (APMT) and 5 Star Logistics have invested significantly in infrastructure and equipment. However, he acknowledged the need for further improvements.
“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. He stressed the need for port modernization to attract global shipping giants like MAXLINE, which currently delivers only 500,000 containers to Nigeria annually out of their seven million global containers.
The MD confirmed ongoing efforts to secure federal approval for a port modernization project worth millions of dollars. Additionally, dredging activities and enhanced technological integration are in progress. “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 stated.
The MD 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.
Dr. Dantsoho 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.
The tour highlighted the agency’s commitment to stakeholder collaboration and the federal government’s backing to modernize Nigerian ports and improve their competitiveness on the global stage.
