NPA, MAN Oron in synergy to upgrade, boost manpower, port infrastructure in Nigeria
By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron have unveiled reforms at strengthening manpower development and boosting port efficiency towards unlocking the country’s blue economy.
According to the NPA’s 2024 Consolidated Management Report, improved by 45.1 per cent, or 71.2 million metric tons in 2023 to 103.3 million in 2024, the investments, it is said, will further boost the renewed efficiency and increased trade activity. The surge in the throughput, the report indicated, helped push Nigeria to a trade surplus of N5.81 trillion ($3.7 billion) in Q3 2024, according to data from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
While the NPA revealed it is driving the nation’s logistics transformation with a $1 billion reconstruction of the Tin Can Island Port Complex, alongside the rehabilitation of Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports, MAN, on its part said the institution is aligning its mandate with national economic objectives by producing skilled maritime professionals to meet both local and international demand.
Speaking at the 2025 Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) annual conference held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend, the NPA’s Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, who was represented at the event by the Principal Manager, Corporate Affairs, Hadiza Usman Shu’aibu, said the Authority is also leading capacity expansion through the development of new ports Snake Island, Badagry Deep Seaport, Ondo Deep Seaport, and Burutu Port all at different stages of implementation.
“The NPA is actively upgrading infrastructure and accelerating digital transformation across Nigeria’s ports to improve cargo handling and attract investments,” he said.
He added that Nigeria has joined the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA), paving the way for full implementation of the National Single Window (NSW), a platform designed to streamline port operations and reduce trade bottlenecks.
Dantsoho noted truck congestion at Lagos ports is also being tackled through enhancements to the electronic truck call-up system, which now features satellite parks and time-belt scheduling.
“These measures have significantly eased gridlock and improved turnaround time,” he said
