The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has thrown his full weight behind the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (Abuja MoU) Capacity Building Programme, hailing it as a pivotal step toward strengthening maritime governance and enhancing Port State Control (PSC) across the West and Central African sub-regions.
​Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Dantsoho emphasized that robust capacity building is essential for standardizing shipping operations, safety, and marine environmental protection along the regional coastlines.
The programme aims to harmonize inspection procedures among member states, ensuring substandard vessels are effectively barred from regional waters.
Dr. Dantsoho noted that a unified approach among West and Central African nations is critical to tackling shared maritime security and operational challenges.
By equipping maritime personnel with modern skills, the initiative secures long-term efficiency and transparency in port governance.
​The NPA boss reiterated the authority’s commitment to supporting regional frameworks that align with international maritime standards. According to Dantsoho, upgrading the technical competence of port officials will directly translate into reduced turnaround times for vessels and heightened safety compliance.
​”A well-trained maritime workforce is the bedrock of effective Port State Control. Supporting the Abuja MoU capacity programme is not just a commitment to sub-regional cooperation, but a strategic move to position Nigeria and our neighbors as safe, competitive maritime hubs,” Dantsoho stated.
​The Abuja MoU is the apex inter-governmental organization responsible for Port State Control in West and Central Africa. It comprises 22 country signatories stretching from Mauritania to South Africa, tasked with harmonizing port state inspection regimes to eliminate substandard shipping in the region.
