By Comfort Olayinka
The President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has made a clarion call for African nations to urgently convert their marine comparative advantages into tangible economic gains for the continent’s collective prosperity.
Speaking at the ongoing PMAWCA Board of Directors and Ports Statisticians Network Meetings in Luanda, Angola, Dr. Dantsoho, who also serves as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), emphasized that Africa’s long-term sustainability hinges significantly on the viability and strategic development of its seaports.
“The need to translate our marine comparative advantages into opportunities for the collective prosperity of our respective countries has never been more pressing than it is now,” Dantsoho stated, urging member countries to intensify regional port collaboration to drive economic growth.
Highlighting the interconnected nature of countries in West and Central Africa—bound not only by water but by shared opportunities and challenges—he stressed the importance of unity in tackling common hurdles and harnessing port-driven development.
Dr. Dantsoho praised the Nigerian government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which he said has re-energized sector-specific policy implementation and talent development efforts.
He noted that data remains central to effective port management, lauding the integration of the Statisticians Network into the meeting as a smart move toward regional synergy.
“Modernization of our ports and full automation through the Port Community System (PCS) and National Single Window (NSW) must go hand-in-hand with strengthened economic cohesion among PMAWCA members,” he added.
The PMAWCA boss also expressed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to driving reforms aligned with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including trade liberalization and regional economic cooperation.
“Together, under the PMAWCA umbrella, we are well-positioned to unlock wealth and economic prosperity for our nations and the broader sub-region,” he concluded.
The Luanda meeting will also review 2024 activity reports, assess financial strategies, and define a strategic roadmap for PMAWCA’s future.
