By Mercy Aikoye
A civil society organisation, the National Coalition for Transformative Reforms (NCTR), has commended the leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) under its Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, describing the ongoing reforms in the nation’s maritime sector as a major step towards repositioning Nigeria as a competitive regional trade hub.
The coalition said the reforms being implemented by the NPA, alongside broader Federal Government initiatives in the Marine and Blue Economy sector, were beginning to yield positive results through improved port operations, infrastructure development and increased investor confidence.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Executive Director of NCTR, Dr. Richard Ocheje, said the appointment of Dantsoho by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 had brought renewed focus and direction to the agency.
He noted that the NPA had recorded significant progress through initiatives centred on digital transformation, regulatory improvements and the modernisation of port facilities.
According to Ocheje, the authority’s recent efforts have enhanced public confidence in the agency and aligned with government’s objective of creating a more efficient and business-friendly maritime environment.
“The MD has within a short time given the NPA a brand new image. As a regulator, the agency has left no one in doubt that the man in charge is a square peg in a square hole,” he said.
The group also highlighted ongoing investments aimed at upgrading Nigeria’s port infrastructure, including the £746 million United Kingdom financing agreement signed in March 2026 for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and Tin Can Island Port.
It further cited the Federal Government’s $1 billion seaport reconstruction programme, which is expected to cover the rehabilitation of major ports including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt/Onne.
Beyond infrastructure renewal, the coalition said the development of new deep seaports in Badagry, Olokola, Ibom, Bakassi and Bonny would expand cargo-handling capacity and strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional maritime trade.
Ocheje also praised the government’s push for technology-driven port administration, particularly the implementation of the National Single Window platform, which he said would simplify cargo clearance processes, reduce delays and improve trade facilitation.
He added that the passage of the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill by the National Assembly would further strengthen transparency and accountability in the sector by providing an independent framework for regulating tariffs and service standards.
The NCTR expressed confidence that sustained implementation of the reforms would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, attract private sector investment and position the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa.
