By Efe Onodjae

President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, PMAWCA, Abubakar Dantsoho, has said Nigeria currently accounts for over 70 per cent of cargo traffic within the West and Central African sub-region.

Dantsoho, who is also the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the PMAWCA mid-year meetings held in Lagos.

He attributed Nigeria’s dominant position in regional cargo movement to its strategic location and large consumer market, which continue to attract significant shipping and trade activities.
According to him, the country’s port system plays a central role in facilitating maritime trade across the sub-region, making Nigeria a key logistics hub in West and Central Africa.

Dantsoho also noted that ongoing reforms and investments in port infrastructure are aimed at strengthening efficiency and sustaining Nigeria’s leadership in regional cargo handling.
He added that modernisation efforts, including automation and digitalisation, are critical to improving service delivery and maintaining competitiveness in the maritime sector.
The PMAWCA president further explained that several countries in the region are currently investing in port upgrades to improve capacity and efficiency, a development he said is necessary for regional trade growth.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for stronger cooperation among African countries to fully harness the potential of the maritime sector.
Represented by the Director of Maritime Services, Oyinloye Meshack, Oyetola said ongoing projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port demonstrate Africa’s readiness to meet global maritime standards through strategic investments.