The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has intensified efforts to modernise the country’s port operations through the aggressive implementation of the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window (NSW), both of which are aimed at driving transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness within Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Speaking at the AMJON Annual Maritime Conference and Awards held over the weekend in Lagos, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko Dantsoho, represented by Mrs. Hadiza Usman Shu’aibu, confirmed that Nigeria has formally joined the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), a move that marks a crucial step toward full implementation of the National Single Window framework.

“This milestone positions Nigeria to fully digitise and harmonise its port operations with global standards,” Dantsoho said.

$1 Billion Port Infrastructure Upgrade Underway

The NPA chief also announced that documentation and preliminary work have commenced on the much-anticipated $1 billion upgrade of the Tincan Island Port Complex. This project is accompanied by comprehensive rehabilitation works at five additional port complexes—Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar—to ensure their structural and operational integrity.

According to Dantsoho, the rehabilitation projects align with the mandate of President Bola Tinubu and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to revamp Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.

Green Port Expansion in Progress

In addition to rehabilitation, Dantsoho said the NPA is pushing ahead with plans to expand port capacity and develop new environmentally sustainable port infrastructure. Ports such as Snake Island, Badagry Deep Seaport, Ondo Deep Seaport, and Burutu Port are at different stages of development, all being supervised under the NPA’s technical guidance.

“This is part of our broader goal to build a resilient and future-proof maritime sector,” he added.

Tackling Lagos Gridlock

To address the persistent congestion around Lagos ports, the NPA says it has reinforced the electronic truck call-up system through the deployment of satellite truck parks and regulated access via time belts. These measures, according to Dantsoho, have improved the ease of doing business at the ports.

Trade Surplus Attributed to Port Efficiency

Dantsoho attributed Nigeria’s trade surplus of ₦5.81 trillion ($3.7 billion) in Q3 2024—reported by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)—to reforms undertaken in the maritime sector. He noted that operational efficiency at the ports had contributed significantly to the country’s economic performance during the period.

New Revenue Streams and PPP Initiatives

The NPA, under Dantsoho’s leadership, is also exploring new revenue channels through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Potential investment areas include Independent Power Production (IPP), development of logistics zones, bunkering services, ship repairs, and freshwater supply stations. These projects aim to transform fallow lands within the ports into viable commercial hubs.

International Recognition and Maritime Diplomacy

Highlighting the Authority’s growing regional influence, Dantsoho was recently elected President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA)—the first Nigerian to occupy the position since the group’s establishment in 1972. He is also leading diplomatic efforts to secure Nigeria’s re-admission into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which would restore the country’s voice in global maritime governance.

Port Statistics Show Record Growth in 2024

The 2024 Consolidated Management Report released by the NPA reveals a surge in maritime activity across all major indicators. Cargo throughput rose by 45.1%—from 71.2 million metric tons in 2023 to over 103.3 million metric tons in 2024—signalling increased trade volumes and improved logistics performance.

Other metrics, including ship traffic and service boat operations, also showed notable gains, indicating the overall health and resilience of the country’s port system.

“These reforms are not just abstract policy shifts. They are delivering measurable improvements that matter to Nigeria’s economy,” Dantsoho concluded.

With both physical upgrades and digital transformation underway, the NPA appears poised to usher in a new era for Nigeria’s maritime economy, an era driven by technology, global standards, and sustainable infrastructure.

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Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has strongly refuted claims by BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, that her administration arbitrarily terminated the company’s concession at the Rivers Port in Port Harcourt due to personal interests.

Rabiu had made the allegations in an article titled “Two Years of President Tinubu: A Business Perspective”, published on Thursday, May 29. While commending President Bola Tinubu for creating a more stable and investor-friendly environment, Rabiu cited a past incident where BUA’s operations were allegedly shut down by a former NPA MD to protect the interests of a personal associate.

“One day, we woke up to a letter stating that the concession had been revoked, the terminal shut down, and the lease agreement terminated,” Rabiu wrote.

“Later, we discovered that the Managing Director of NPA at the time decided to close the business simply because our operations were competing with those of her friend.”

Though Rabiu did not name the NPA official, his comments were widely interpreted as referring to Hadiza Bala Usman, who served as MD of the Authority from 2016 to 2021.

Usman Responds: “Shameful and False”

In a detailed response, Usman described Rabiu’s claims as “shameful,” stating that BUA’s concession was revoked due to persistent violations of its lease agreement, not personal bias or favoritism.

According to Usman, BUA Ports and Terminal Limited was awarded the concession for Rivers Port Terminal B under a 20-year lease agreement signed on May 11, 2006. The company officially took over the terminal on August 10, 2006.

A key term of the agreement, Usman said, required BUA to commence reconstruction of Berths 5–8 within 90 days of the handover. However, she noted that a full decade later, no rehabilitation had begun—prompting a series of formal warnings from the NPA.

“A notice of default was issued to BUA on February 11, 2016—before I assumed office as MD,” Usman said.

“Despite this, and a further notice under my tenure on August 17, 2016, the company continued to ignore its contractual obligations.”

She added that after repeated warnings, the NPA issued a termination notice on November 11, 2016, giving BUA three months to vacate the terminal. The company later obtained a restraining order from the Federal High Court in January 2018, which temporarily barred the NPA from enforcing the termination. Usman said the Authority complied with the court’s directive, allowing BUA continued access to the facility.

Political Pressure Alleged

In her rebuttal, Usman also alleged that Rabiu used his access to then-President Muhammadu Buhari to pressure the federal government into reversing NPA’s lawful decision—an act she says contradicted the terms of the agreement and worked against Nigeria’s national interest.

“Mr. Rabiu never disclosed how he misinformed the former president to overturn a process that followed due diligence,” Usman stated.

“Rather than take responsibility for failing to uphold his end of a federal agreement, he now seeks to rewrite history and cast himself as a victim.”

“Respect the Agreement, Not Rewrite It”

Usman urged BUA Group to refrain from what she described as “cheap blackmail” and to instead commit to responsible corporate governance and transparency.

“It is curious that the BUA Chairman continues to push a false narrative, aimed at distracting Nigerians from the truth: that his company flouted binding obligations and attempted to leverage influence to escape consequences,” she said.

“The real issue is about respecting national contracts, not personal vendettas.”

A Broader Lesson on Accountability

The development has sparked broader discussions about the accountability of both public officials and private sector leaders in Nigeria’s concession regime.

Media analyst and journalist KC weighed in, stating:

“This controversy underscores the importance of transparency in government-business relationships. If Nigeria is to attract long-term investment, concessionaires must be held to the same standards as the public agencies they deal with.”

As the public debate unfolds, Usman’s sharp response appears to mark a clear stand against what she views as a growing trend of historical revisionism by powerful interests.

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