Oyetola declares open PMAWCA meeting

…reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to becoming regional port hub

By Fredrick Ameh

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola on Monday declared open the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Lagos.

Addressing stakeholders at the PMAWCA meeting, the Minister stated that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to position Nigeria as the leading trade and logistics hub in West and Central Africa.

He noted that this will be achieved through major port reforms, infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation, and the expansion of deep seaport projects.

He further revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has approved additional deep seaports to strengthen supply chain resilience, while existing ports undergo channel deepening to attract larger vessels.

Reforms like the National Single Window initiative and the Deep Blue Project also continue to improve efficiency and enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

The session, themed “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development,” focuses on strengthening port infrastructure and regional trade.

According to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and President of PMAWCA, Abubakar Dantsoho, the West and Central African region is currently witnessing over $27 billion in port development projects.

He highlighted major investments, including Guinea’s Simandou-Morebaya Port project, Côte d’Ivoire’s Port San Pedro, Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port, upgrades at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, and a $600 million investment by APM Terminals.

Dantsoho emphasized that regional ports must evolve beyond cargo handling into strategic drivers of the blue economy through renewable marine energy, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology.

The event, running from May 18 to 20, 2026, attracted key government officials, maritime stakeholders, and business leaders, including Governor Agbu Kefas, Aliko Dangote, and Hadiza Bala Usman.