NPA Welcomes West, Central African Maritime Leaders for Strategic PMAWCA Talks

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 (PMAWCA).

The three-day high-level gathering, scheduled for May 18–20, 2026, and hosted by the Nigerian Ports Authority in Lagos, will bring together leading maritime stakeholders and port administrators from across West and Central Africa to discuss the future of ports and regional maritime development.
With the theme, “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development,” the meeting will focus on strengthening port infrastructure, building resilient logistics systems, deepening regional collaboration, and ensuring that port development delivers meaningful socio-economic benefits to host communities.
Ahead of the event, the Managing Director of the NPA and chief host, Abubakar Dantsoho, described the gathering as an important platform for shaping the future of ports within the sub-region.
According to him, the meeting presents maritime leaders and stakeholders with an opportunity to reaffirm the strategic role of ports in driving global trade and economic growth.
“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.
Dantsoho stated that ports remain gateways to prosperity, connecting nations to international markets while serving as engines of economic integration and sustainable development.
“With ports serving as gateways of prosperity and linking nations to the international community, their demonstrated leadership in advancing sustainable development goals cannot be overemphasized,” he added.
He further stressed that the sustainability of the global economy is closely linked to the resilience and operational efficiency of ports, particularly those within the West and Central African region.
The NPA boss assured participants of a conducive environment for productive engagements capable of generating ideas and policy directions that will strengthen maritime cooperation and regional development.
The meeting is expected to feature discussions on port security, infrastructure development, trade connectivity, and emerging strategies for building future-ready ports amid evolving global challenges.
It also underscores Nigeria’s growing influence within the regional maritime sector, following the country’s successful hosting of the 43rd PMAWCA Annual Council and Managing Directors’ Roundtable in 2023.
Deliberations during the meeting will also include reviews of PMAWCA midterm committee activities and broader discussions on enhancing collaboration among member ports.