NPA Woos Global Investors With Nigeria’s Maritime Reforms At World Ports Conference
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has intensified efforts to attract foreign investment into Nigeria’s maritime sector, showcasing the Federal Government’s ongoing port reforms and investment-friendly policies at the World Ports Conference in London.
The NPA said the reforms were aimed at creating opportunities for private sector participation, improving port efficiency and promoting sustainable growth in the country’s maritime industry.
Speaking at the conference, the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, highlighted the maritime policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing Nigeria as a major investment destination with significant opportunities for global investors.
Dantsoho noted that Nigeria’s growing population, rapid urbanisation and existing infrastructure gaps in the port sector presented enormous prospects for investment in maritime infrastructure and related industries.
He stressed that the scale of growth and development required in the country’s ports could not be financed by the government alone, urging international investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in Nigeria and across Africa.
The NPA managing director, who also serves as Vice-President of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) and Chairman of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), described Africa’s largely untapped resources as a major attraction for port development and investment.
Citing the development of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos as an example of successful private-sector participation, Dantsoho recalled that the facility, commissioned about three years ago, was developed with Chinese investment and the involvement of China Harbour Engineering Company at a cost of approximately $1.6 billion.
He said the project demonstrated the scale of investment required to develop modern port infrastructure and the benefits of international partnerships in expanding maritime capacity.
Dantsoho maintained that Nigeria’s position as Africa’s most populous country, coupled with its expanding economy and growing demand for port services, offered investors significant opportunities to participate in the development of deeper seaports and other critical maritime infrastructure.
He therefore called on global investors to explore the opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector, noting that sustained investment would be essential to strengthening port operations, expanding capacity and positioning the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa.
