Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho

The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has emerged the Vice-President for Africa of the International Association for Ports and Harbours IAPH, a development that further cements Nigeria’s growing influence in global maritime affairs.

The IAPH is the global trade association for seaports worldwide, with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. It was formed in 1955, and is now recognised as the NGO representing seaports worldwide.

This election, which held in Tokyo, marks another milestone for Dantsoho, who previously made history when he became the first Nigerian to lead the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa PMAWCA, since its establishment in 1972.

General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the NPA, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, who confirmed the new development in a statement Tuesday, said the election signposts international recognition of Nigeria’s renewed leadership in maritime development.

Secretary-General of the IAPH, Masahiko Furuichi, also welcomed the development, noting, “I am delighted to work together with you in IAPH for the years to come.”

Recall that Dantsoho’s leadership at the NPA has been marked by major operational gains, including a significant rise in non-oil exports and an improved trade balance.

According to statistics from the Nigerian Export Processing Council NEPC, non-oil exports rose by 19.59per cent in the first half of 2025 to $3.225 billion, while export volumes on NPA platforms climbed to 4.04 million metric tonnes.

Similarly, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group NESG, has also credited these reforms with helping Nigeria achieve a trade surplus for the first time in several years.

The IAPH is a global alliance of more than 190 seaports and 167 port-related businesses across 89 countries. Collectively, its members handle over 60per cent of the world’s seaborne trade and container traffic. The body plays a key role in shaping global maritime policy, working closely with the International Maritime Organisation IMO, World Customs Organisation WCO, and the United Nations system.

Dantsoho’s elevation places Nigeria at the heart of global seaport policy debates, strengthening its voice in advancing trade efficiency, port resilience, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime sector.