Nigeria’s maritime sector has scored another major milestone with the election of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as Vice President (Africa) of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the appointment as “a strong affirmation of Nigeria’s leadership in the global blue economy” and a testament to Dantsoho’s “visionary leadership in port administration.”
The election, held during the 44th IAPH Annual Council meeting in Conakry, Guinea, strengthens Nigeria’s growing influence in international maritime governance. The country last held the same position in 2017 through Hadiza Bala Usman.
Dantsoho, who recently became the first Nigerian to chair the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), pledged to focus on enhancing African ports’ competitiveness, modernizing infrastructure, and deepening regional economic integration.
Industry experts say his dual roles at PMAWCA and IAPH put him in a strategic position to align Africa’s maritime policies with global standards, potentially boosting trade efficiency and driving economic growth across the continent.
Analysts see the development as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to leverage its maritime assets for economic diversification and increased participation in global trade.
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