By Obiabin Onukwugha
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, has called on African nations to strengthen regional collaboration to leverage blue economy to harness the continent’s vast maritime potential and accelerate socio-economic growth.
Dontsoho made the call at the 45th Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), in Pointe-Noire, Congo,
Dontsoho, who is also the President of PMAWCA, emphasised that the association is prioritising climate and energy, data collaboration, and risk resilience as key pillars for transforming Africa’s port operations.
A statement by the NPA on its X handle on Thursday said, Dontsoho who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Spokesperson of the Authority, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, said this year’s theme: “Reinventing Port Zones Management: Towards Sustainable and Resilient Valorization of Port Infrastructure, tackling Economic and Environmental Challenges”, aims to reinforce determination to harmoniously work together in seeking sustainable solutions to port operations across the continent.
The NPA boss urged participants to regard themselves as custodians of Africa’s economic future, emphasising that resilient port infrastructure, security, and transparency remain crucial to competitiveness and integration across the continent.
“The waters that connect our countries remind us of our duty to work together for the good of all. Competition has shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation; which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off,” he said.
Dantsoho praised the Republic of Congo and the Port Authority of Pointe-Noire for hosting the council at a time when regional integration is most crucial to collective economic prosperity, stressing that countries in the region have a shared destiny connected by developmental challenges, robust human capital and natural resource endowments.
He reminded delegates of the Kobe 2025 pledge for Policy Implementation, Renewed Collaboration and Trade Facilitation, soliciting everyone’s goodwill to fulfil it.