By Efe Onodjae

President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has warned that Africa is facing a shortage of ports, particularly in West and Central Africa.

He made the remark in Lagos during the flag-off of the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA).

Dangote urged governments to encourage private sector investment in ports rather than directly investing in the facilities.

According to him, this approach would not only boost the continent’s infrastructure but also increase government revenues through effective collection.

“We continue to encourage people to come and invest because really we are running short of ports, especially in West and Central Africa,” Dangote said. He cited delays at ports in countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, noting that the turnaround for port operations can take up to three weeks.

The billionaire businessman emphasized that governments should focus on revenue collection and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to invest heavily in port development.
He revealed plans for the Lekki Pre-Treatment Seaport, which he described as set to become “the largest, deepest seaport in Africa, not just West Africa.” He added that the group recently concluded discussions with the President of Tanzania on building another port, signaling a growing focus on port operations as a key business venture.

Dangote further stated that Dangote Group aims to become the largest African supplier of proteins and reassured the association of the company’s continued support.
“We want to thank you, and be rest assured, whatever you call us, we’ll be there to assist you. We’ll be part and parcel of this year’s association. I wish you a very successful celebration,” he said.