The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has declared that sweeping reforms championed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, are placing Nigeria on track to dominate Africa’s blue economy. Speaking at an industry event in Abuja, Dantsoho said the nation’s port system holds the potential to become a primary driver of investment and economic expansion if current reforms are sustained and private capital continues flowing into the sector.
Structural Shift Required to Unlock Marine Potential
Dantsoho called for an urgent recalibration of Nigeria’s economic model to fully exploit its maritime assets. “The time has come for a paradigm shift in the structure of Nigeria’s economy towards the full utilisation of our marine resources,” he said. “Our port system, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major driver of economic growth.” The NPA chief pointed to Nigeria’s geographic positioning, consumer market scale, and economic weight as competitive strengths that could propel the country to the status of West Africa’s premier maritime hub, drawing comparisons with established nodes such as Singapore and Morocco.
Despite these inherent advantages, Dantsoho acknowledged the scale of unrealised opportunity. Nigeria currently captures roughly 25 percent of total cargo traffic across West Africa, a figure he described as far below what the nation’s GDP contribution of over 60 percent would suggest is possible. “This clearly shows that we have not fully optimised our potential,” he stated.
Private Capital and Infrastructure Investment as Reform Pillars
According to Dantsoho, the path toward closing that gap runs through deeper private sector involvement. The NPA is actively courting project financing arrangements to bridge infrastructure shortfalls and lift operational efficiency. “We are open to private sector participation through project financing,” he explained. “This approach is already improving efficiency and providing access to funding for critical infrastructure.”
The reform agenda extends beyond bricks and mortar. Dantsoho outlined a set of interlocking objectives: strengthening liner connectivity to draw larger vessels into Nigerian terminals, driving down freight costs for importers and exporters, and broadening the nation’s export base to generate stronger revenue streams. “The ultimate goal is to improve liner connectivity, attract bigger vessels, reduce freight costs, and expand our export base, which will significantly boost revenue generation,” he said.