NPA MD calls for completion of international highways, rail routes

Abubakar Dantsoho, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has advocated for the sustained pursuit and completion of international highway and rail routes cutting across Hinterland and Coastal such as the Niger, Lagos, Tema and Abidjan.

Speaking on Monday at the 44th annual council and 19th roundtable of directors-general of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) holding in Conakry-Guinea, Dantsoho said the efforts are essential to ensuring efficient service provision to landlocked states at reduced costs.

The NPA boss said Africa accounts for 16 of the world’s 44 landlocked countries, making it a moral responsibility for coastal states to provide access to the sea for these nations.

“The question thrown by emerging trends and the current roundtable is more like servicing the Hinterland without scrambling for the service on one hand and how to build shared capacity by coastal states to ensure service provision to the landlocked states efficiently and at reduced cost,” Dantsoho said.

“In doing the above, there should be sustained and sincere agenda to engage in the following: Sustained pursuit and completion of the International Highway routes cutting across Hinterland and Coastal, such as the Niger, Lagos, Tema and Abidjan International Highways, sustained creation of common International Rail routes cutting across Hinterland and Coastal States.”

He also highlighted the need for cooperation among nations to improve trade facilitation, share technological advancements, and enhance connectivity between coastal states to streamline cargo transportation, particularly in areas requiring multiple water transits within the subregion.

In addition, the NPA MD recommended establishing multilateral agreements and trading partnerships, coordinating investments in port infrastructure and transportation networks, and harmonizing regulations to facilitate smooth cargo movement.

Dantsoho welcomed the proposed Abidjan to Lagos highway by ECOWAS heads of state, which is expected to connect some of the most economically dynamic cities and ports in West Africa.

“Regulatory harmonization: Aligning policies and procedures to facilitate smooth cargo movement. This is critical for transhipment cargo, joint initiatives for security, safety, and environmental protection,” he said.

“This is critical for attracting and sustaining economic development, combining cargo volumes to negotiate better rates with shipping lines, aligning vessel schedules to reduce congestion and increase efficiency. Ports in the region, particularly the Shippers’ Councils must continue to work together on this.”

He emphasised the importance of sharing best practices for terminal operations and capacity utilisation, as well as collaborating on rail, road, and inland waterway connections.

Dantsoho also called for joint contingency planning for accidents or disruptions and the fostering of diplomatic and cultural exchange programs, noting that strong relationships promote trust and cooperation.

He stressed that by aligning strategic and operational efforts, benefits like greater efficiency, enhanced competitiveness, improved customer satisfaction, lower costs, and more effective use of resources can be realised.

“From the foregoing it is clear that the relationship between maritime shipping and the hinterland is interdependent, which implies thst surmounting the challenges associated with fluidity of Port operations requires a strong nexus between the maritime space and the hinterland as the two constitute the domain of global freight circulation,” the NPA boss said.

“Conclusively, ensuring the full optimization of Hinterland Connectivity, requires a diverse approach that combines infrastructure development, digital advancement and diplomatic cooperation measures which I believe PMAWCA is thoroughly equipped and is poised to foster.”

‘OPTIMISING PORT HINTERLAND SERVICES REQUIRES INTEGRATED VISION OF CONNECTIVITY’

Also speaking, Mamadou Biro Diallo, the managing director of the Port Autonome de Conakry, said ports are essential hubs for global trade and key drivers of economic growth.

However, he noted that for this growth to be truly beneficial, it must extend beyond the ports themselves and into the hinterland.

”This is where connectivity and the fluidity of logistics chains play a decisive role. Connectivity between the ports and the hinterland is based on a varied infrastructure network, including roads, railways and sometimes even waterways,” Diallo said.

”That’s why the Port Autonome de Conakry is giving pride of place to these challenges, which also involve supporting the development efforts of hinterland countries by offering quality services.

“Optimising port hinterland services requires an integrated vision of connectivity, fluidity and reliability. This requires strong collaboration between public and private players, a commitment to sustainable investment in infrastructure and greater adoption of new technologies.”

By working together, Diallo said the industry can overcome these challenges and build more efficient supply chains that will not only strengthen local economies but also contribute to the growth of global trade.