Oyetola flags off PMAWCA meeting in Lagos

…as Dantsoho announces $27bn Port projects in West, Central Africa

By Efe Onodjae

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday, flagged off the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, PMAWCA, in Lagos, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to expanding port infrastructure and strengthening its position as a leading maritime hub in the region.

Speaking at the conference in Lagos themed “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development,” Oyetola said the Federal Government had approved the development of additional deep seaports and ongoing reforms aimed at boosting efficiency, trade facilitation and maritime competitiveness.

He also restated the administration’s commitment to modernising port operations through infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation and enhanced security across Nigerian waters.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and President of PMAWCA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed that more than $27 billion worth of port projects have been announced across West and Central Africa as part of efforts to deepen maritime infrastructure and regional trade integration.

Speaking during his welcome address at the conference, Dantsoho said the region was witnessing a strong resurgence in port development, with investments increasingly positioning maritime infrastructure as a driver of economic growth.

He listed major projects to include the $20 billion Simandou-Morebaya Deep Sea Port in Guinea, the $2 billion Port San Pedro project in Côte d’Ivoire, and the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos.

According to him, ongoing expansion and modernisation of ports are also taking place in Ghana and Senegal, while Nigeria continues to attract significant investments in the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, including a fresh $600 million investment by APM Terminals.

Dantsoho stressed that ports in the sub-region must evolve beyond cargo handling into key enablers of the blue economy.

“The future of the sector lies in areas such as renewable marine energy, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism and marine biotechnology,” he said.

The PMAWCA conference, scheduled to hold from May 18 to 20, 2026.

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