The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, is set to declare open the Board of Directors meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa on Monday in Lagos.

According to the Nigerian Ports Authority, the three-day meeting, scheduled for May 18 to 20, will convene chief executives and senior maritime officials from across West and Central Africa to deliberate on developments in the region’s port sector.

The authority said discussions will centre on improving port infrastructure, strengthening logistics systems, enhancing regional cooperation, and expanding the developmental impact of ports on host communities.

The meeting is themed “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development.”

The Managing Director of the NPA and President of PMAWCA,
Abubakar Dantsoho,
will host the gathering, which is expected to provide a platform for aligning regional priorities on maritime development.

Dantsoho said the meeting would focus on aligning regional port strategies and strengthening cooperation among member states.

“The meeting affords us all, as chief executives and stakeholders, the platform to reiterate the pivotal role that ports play in shaping the future of humanity,” he said.

“With ports serving as gateways of prosperity and linking nations to the international community, their demonstrated leadership in advancing sustainable development goals cannot be overemphasised.”

The NPA said the meeting will examine port security, infrastructure expansion, trade connectivity, and strategies to strengthen maritime systems across the sub-region.

It added that Nigeria’s role as host reflects its leadership in West and Central African maritime affairs, following the 43rd PMAWCA Annual Council and Managing Directors’ Roundtable held in 2023.

Participants are expected to review midterm committee reports and consider new frameworks for deeper collaboration among member ports within the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola is scheduled to open the event, while NPA Managing Director and PMAWCA President Abubakar Dantsoho will host the meeting.