African Economic Prosperity: NPA’s Dantsoho Calls for Marine Resource Utilization

The President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has called on African countries to translate their marine comparative advantages into opportunities for collective prosperity.

Speaking at the PMAWCA Board of Directors and Ports Statisticians Network Meetings in Luanda, Angola, Dantsoho noted that the sustainability of Africa’s countries rests heavily on the sustainability of their seaports.

“The need to translate our marine comparative advantages into opportunities for the collective prosperity of our respective countries has never been more pressing than it is now,” Dantsoho said.

“Apart from being linked by water, countries in West and Central Africa are linked by challenges and opportunities.”

He said the demonstrated global leadership of ports in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) shows that the sustainability of the world, especially Africa, rests heavily on the sustainability of ports.

Dantsoho said the importance of data-driven decision-making in port management, saying, “Data remains the major driver of effective decision-making in Port Management.”

He commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, which has made implementing audacious plans for the sector easier.

The PMAWCA President also emphasized the potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying, “The specific objectives of the AfCFTA, which include the progressive elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods, liberalization of trade in services, and cooperation amongst others, is pregnant with a lot of opportunities for wealth creation and prosperity.”

Dantsoho reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to achieving economic cohesion among PMAWCA members.

“I would like to register Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to achieving this as soon as possible.”

He also highlighted the importance of regional synergy and partnership, saying, “This meeting presents a smart model for regional synergy and partnership, which this administration intends to champion.”