Oyetola Flags Off PMAWCA Mid-Year Session in Lagos, Pushes Nigeria’s Maritime Reform Agenda
Oyetola Flags Off PMAWCA Mid-Year Session in Lagos, Pushes Nigeria’s Maritime Reform Agenda
Oyetola Flags Off PMAWCA Mid-Year Session in Lagos, Pushes Nigeria’s Maritime Reform Agenda
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has formally flagged off the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in the port city of Lagos.
The event, themed “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development,” brings together key maritime stakeholders from across West and Central Africa to discuss strategies for improving port efficiency, resilience, and regional integration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Oyetola said Nigeria is undergoing major maritime sector reforms aimed at positioning the country as a leading trade and logistics hub in the region. He noted that approvals have been granted for additional deep seaports to strengthen supply chain resilience and expand national capacity for international trade.
According to him, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently modernising ports through infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation initiatives, and the implementation of the National Single Window project to improve trade facilitation and reduce bottlenecks.
He added that ongoing channel deepening projects at existing ports are designed to accommodate larger vessels, while the Deep Blue Project has significantly improved maritime security by reducing piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s coastal waters.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and President of PMAWCA, Abubakar Dantsoho, in his welcome address, noted that West and Central Africa is currently witnessing over $27 billion in port-related investments and development projects.
He highlighted key projects including the Simandou-Morebaya Port in Guinea, Port San Pedro in Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port, alongside ongoing upgrades at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, as well as a $600 million investment commitment by APM Terminals.
Dantsoho emphasized that modern ports must go beyond cargo handling to become drivers of the blue economy, including renewable marine energy, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology.
The three-day session, scheduled from May 18 to 20, 2026, is expected to host high-level participants, including Governor Agbu Kefas, business leader Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, among other regional stakeholders.
Oyetola Flags Off PMAWCA Mid-Year Session in Lagos, Pushes Nigeria’s Maritime Reform Agenda
