The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on Tuesday joined the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Gboyega Oyetola, and heads of sister agencies at a Citizens’ Engagement Meeting on the activities of the Ministry, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The fourth-quarter engagement focused on exploring opportunities for investment, innovation and expansion within Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy, with participants highlighting the sector’s growing potential to drive sustainable economic development.
Discussions at the session placed strong emphasis on the role of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in accelerating growth in the marine and blue economy, particularly in the delivery of modern infrastructure, improved services and long-term sustainability across the maritime value chain.
Stakeholders from across the sector used the forum to outline key concerns, expectations and areas requiring reform, while also expressing support for a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to the governance of the marine and blue economy.
In his remarks, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Oyetola, assured participants of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing identified gaps and harnessing emerging opportunities in the sector, noting that stakeholder input would guide ongoing policy and institutional reforms.
Addressing maritime-specific concerns, the NPA Managing Director, Dr. Dantsoho, provided insights into the impact of Nigeria’s port modernisation programme and the Authority’s port automation strategy, alongside other initiatives aimed at improving maritime transport efficiency and strengthening port infrastructure nationwide.
He said the reforms were designed to enhance operational efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, improve ease of doing business and position Nigerian ports as competitive hubs within the West and Central African sub-region.
The engagement is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to deepen transparency, promote inclusive participation and align public sector initiatives with private sector investment in advancing Nigeria’s marine and blue economy agenda.
