Oyetola To Open PMAWCA Meeting As NPA Hosts Maritime Leaders
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, is expected to declare open the Board of Directors meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) as the Nigerian Ports Authority hosts maritime leaders and port administrators in Lagos.
The three-day meeting, scheduled to hold from May 18 to 20, 2026, will bring together key stakeholders from across West and Central Africa to discuss the future of ports and regional maritime development.
The meeting, themed “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development,” will focus on strengthening port infrastructure, improving logistics resilience, deepening regional collaboration, and ensuring that port development delivers socio-economic benefits to host communities.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and President of PMAWCA, Abubakar Dantsoho, described the gathering as an important platform for shaping the future of ports within the sub-region.
According to him, the meeting will provide maritime leaders and stakeholders the opportunity to reaffirm the strategic role of ports in driving global trade and economic growth.
He noted that ports remain critical gateways linking nations to international markets while also serving as engines of economic integration and sustainable development.
Dantsoho further stressed that the resilience and efficiency of ports are essential to the sustainability of the global economy, particularly within the West and Central African region.
He assured participants of a conducive environment for productive engagements capable of generating policies and ideas that would strengthen maritime cooperation and regional development.
The meeting is also expected to feature discussions on port security, infrastructure development, trade connectivity, and strategies for building future-ready ports amid evolving global challenges.
The event further underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in the regional maritime sector following the successful hosting of the 43rd PMAWCA Annual Council and Managing Directors’ Roundtable in 2023.
Participants are also expected to review PMAWCA midterm committee activities and deliberate on measures aimed at enhancing collaboration among member ports.
