.Deepens collaboration for trade facilitation
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, says stronger Port State Control is now central to maritime safety and trade efficiency across West and Central Africa, as it backs the Abuja MoU’s new capacity building drive.
Speaking at the launch of the Abuja MoU programme , NPA Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, praised the leadership driving the regional pact.
He singled out the Chairman of Abuja MoU, His Excellency Hon. Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of The Gambia; Vice-Chairman, His Excellency Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, CON, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; and the Secretariat led by Captain Sunday Umoren.“While acknowledging the contributions of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, this programme is a significant milestone in strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing maritime governance, and supporting the effective implementation of Port State Control throughout the Abuja MoU region,” Dantsoho said.
He noted that the Abuja MoU covers Port State Control for the West and Central African Region. Its focus is on inspecting foreign vessels, enforcing safety and environmental standards, and preventing substandard ships from operating in member states’ waters.
Deepening Collaboration For Trade Facilitation
NPA’s push for regional governance is running alongside internal reforms to ease cargo movement.
In the same vain , the NPA boss also hosted the Executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, led by National President, Mrs. Emenike Nwokeji, at NPA Headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
He told the customs agents’ leadership that the authority is rolling out time-bound steps to deploy a robust Port Corridor Management Framework.
The plan, he said, is aimed at consolidating recent improvements in port access and ensuring they are sustainable.
The meeting underscores NPA’s “continuous improvement paradigm” of port operations and stakeholder engagement, with trade facilitation as the immediate priority.What it means
Taken together, the two engagements signal NPA’s dual track: raise compliance and safety standards regionally through the Abuja MoU, while fixing port corridors domestically to keep goods moving.With Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s support for capacity building, the authority says the goal is fewer detentions, safer waters, and faster cargo turnaround in Nigerian ports.
