From left: Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume in a warm handshake with the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho shortly after the presentation of the award at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho was on Sunday December 7, 2025 decorated with President Bola Tunubu’s Award of ‘Excellence in Maritime Infrastructure Modernisation and Global Port Competitiveness’.

MD NPA and CG Customs, Adewale Adeniyi at the event

The event was the flagship Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service NEAPS, which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The prestigious NAEPS Award, which is a presidential initiative coordinated by the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, publicly recognises and decorates public servants, who have demonstrated excellence in the discharge of their duties.

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho was recognised amongst other sterling performance scorecard for deepening of efficiencies that catalysed the attainment of national trade surplus through unprecedented growth in exports. The reforms introduced by the Abubakar Dantsoho-led management of the NPA, also set the pace for the National Single Window NSW through the Port Community System PCS being at the forefront of galvanising the global investors’ interest in the modernisation of Nigeria’s seaports’ infrastructure and equipment.

MD NPA (Third from left) and other stakeholders during the award

Presidential Award was also in recognition of the growing influence of Nigeria in the comity of maritime nations evidenced by Nigeria’s election to the presidency of the Port Management Association of West Africa PMAWCA.

Nigeria through the NPA was also recently elected Vice President of the International Association for Ports and Harbours IAPH, and the supportive role under the guidance of the Hon.  Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola for Nigeria’s reelection into the Influential “Category C” of the Council of the International Maritime Organisation IMO, among several other global recognitions.

While reacting to Award, Dr. Dantsoho noted that he was actually humbled by the Presidential recognition, which he said serves as a springboard for him to do even more.

“The NPA management under my watch is more that committed in our resolve to completely transform our port systems and infrastructure to make them efficient and globally competitive”, the Managing Director, Dantsoho assured.