The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has been elected Vice-President for Africa of the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH), a development that underscores Nigeria’s rising influence in global maritime governance.
The election, which took place in Tokyo, adds to Dantsoho’s track record of milestones, including his historic appointment as the first Nigerian to head the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa since its inception in 1972.
Confirming the victory in a statement on Tuesday, NPA spokesperson Ikechukwu Onyemekara said the appointment reflects international recognition of Nigeria’s renewed leadership in maritime development. IAPH Secretary-General Masahiko Furuichi also hailed the appointment, stating: “I am delighted to work together with you in IAPH for the years to come.”
Under Dantsoho’s leadership, the NPA has recorded notable operational gains, particularly in boosting non-oil exports and strengthening Nigeria’s trade balance. According to the Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC), non-oil exports grew by 19.59% in the first half of 2025 to $3.225 billion, while export volumes through NPA platforms rose to 4.04 million metric tonnes. The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) also attributed Nigeria’s first trade surplus in years to these reforms.
Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Tokyo, the IAPH is a global alliance of more than 190 ports and 167 port-related businesses across 89 countries. Collectively, its members handle over 60% of the world’s seaborne trade and container traffic, while also shaping international maritime policy in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization, World Customs Organization, and the United Nations system.
Dantsoho’s election positions Nigeria at the centre of global port policy discussions, strengthening its role in advancing trade efficiency, port resilience, and sustainable growth across the maritime sector.
