The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has called for greater investment in port infrastructure to enhance efficiency while assuring terminal operators of the authority’s unwavering support.

Dantsoho appealed yesterday during an operational tour of the Lagos Ports, the Apapa and Tin-Can Island port complexes, as well as the Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL) and APM Terminals, Apapa.

Speaking during the visit, Dantsoho urged the operators to leverage the investor-friendly policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration by increasing their investments in port infrastructure. He said given Nigeria’s vast population, the ports deserve significantly greater investment than what is currently obtainable.

“In alignment with the World Ports Sustainability Programme, the management is committed to promoting eco-friendly ports and we will ensure investor compliance with this global imperative. As a regulator, we pledge to facilitate and protect your investments while ensuring a guaranteed return on investment,” he added.

Dantsoho revealed that the NPA has completed the final phase of the Port Community System (PCS), a technological framework that will serve as the backbone for the forthcoming National Single Window (NSW) project aimed at enhancing port operations and integration.

The NPA boss, recently elected as the first Nigerian President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), emphasised the need for stakeholders to act swiftly in making Nigeria a maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa.

Dantsoho highlighted the critical role of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in the nation’s economy. He reaffirmed the authority’s readiness to implement the PCS and modernize the ports through the planned upgrades. Speaking on port automation, he noted that the PCS would integrate all terminal operators, government agencies, and other stakeholders electronically.

“The terminals will be fully integrated under the Port Community System, which will transition into the National Single Window. This is a key federal government project championed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola,” Dr. Dantsoho stated.

He commended terminal operators for their ongoing investments in equipment and infrastructure but urged them to do more to achieve the government’s objectives for port concessions.

“We need terminal operators to further enhance their infrastructure and equipment to meet the growing demands of the maritime sector,” he stated. Dantsoho reiterated the NPA’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s ports, fostering economic growth and ensuring sustainable development in line with global standards.