Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has called for the completion of international highway, such as Niger-Lagos-Tema-Abidjan corridor and the development of rail infrastructure to enhance connectivity between coastal and landlocked African nations.

Speaking at the 44th Annual Council and 19th Roundtable of Directors General of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) yesterday, the Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, emphasised the moral duty of coastal states to facilitate access to the sea for their landlocked neighbours.

Dantsoho highlighted the challenge of connectivity gaps in servicing the hinterland, noting that out of 44 landlocked countries globally, Africa accounts for 16.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Port Autonome de Conakry, Mamadou Biro Diallo, reiterated the importance of robust hinterland connectivity, noting that ports were key hubs for world trade and catalysts for growth.

He said for this growth to be truly beneficial, it must extend beyond the port interface into the hinterland. Diallo underscored the need for integrated infrastructure networks, sustainable investments and the adoption of new technologies to optimise logistics chains and support both local economies and global trade .