By Abdullahi Sabiu
The Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has called for more investors by terminal operators in the running of the Nigerian sea ports to enable them meet the demands of the country’s growing population.
He was speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, November 27, when he undertook an operational tour of the Apapa and TinCan Island ports complexes.
“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,” he appealed, observing, “Given Nigeria’s huge population, Nigerian Ports definitely deserve greater investment than what is currently obtainable.”
Dantsoho continued: “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,” saying, “On our part as a regulator we assure you of all the facilitation necessary to protect your investment and guarantee return on investment.”
He disclosed that the NPA has concluded the final phase of the Port Community System (PCS) aimed at providing 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 and Central Africa (PMAWCA) charged: “We must translate our vision of being the maritime logistics hub for sustainable Port services in Africa to reality as quickly as possible.”