BUA Chairman commends NPA leadership’s commitment to port excellence
The Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, and his management team for their commitment to improving operational efficiency, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and advancing the modernization of Nigeria’s ports.
Rabiu gave the commendation during a meeting with the NPA leadership, where discussions centered on ongoing reforms across the port system, infrastructure renewal, and opportunities for deeper collaboration between the Authority and private sector operators.
Highlighting Rabiu’s praise for Dantsoho’s constructive leadership style, the engagement marks a stark turn of events from the regulatory challenges BUA Ports and Terminals experienced under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Under the previous administration, the NPA suspended operations at BUA’s Terminal B in the Rivers Port Complex over safety concerns. The action led to a protracted legal dispute and a formal appeal by BUA, which asserted that the shutdown was unjustified and hindered its planned upgrade of the facility.
In contrast to those past friction points, Rabiu noted that Dantsoho’s current approach to improving the operating environment and engaging constructively with stakeholders is helping rebuild investor confidence and support long-term investments in critical port infrastructure.
As one of Nigeria’s leading industrial groups, BUA remains a major investor in the country’s maritime sector through BUA Ports and Terminals Nigeria Limited, concessionaire of Terminal B at the Rivers Port Complex, Port Harcourt.
The company is currently investing more than $65 million in the reconstruction and modernization of the terminal to expand cargo-handling capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance service delivery.
Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr. Dantsoho, thanked the BUA Group Chairman for the commendation and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to building a modern, efficient, and globally competitive port system through sustained collaboration with terminal operators and other private sector partners.
Dantsoho said the Authority would continue to pursue reforms that improve vessel turnaround time, strengthen cargo evacuation, enhance operational efficiency, and attract greater investment into Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He described private sector investments such as BUA’s ongoing reconstruction of Terminal B as a strong vote of confidence in the Federal Government’s port reform agenda.
He reiterated the NPA’s determination to provide an enabling environment for investments that deepen trade, support industrialization, and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
The engagement reflects the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to leverage public-private partnerships to modernize critical infrastructure, facilitate trade, and accelerate economic growth.