A civil society organisation, the National Coalition for Transformative Reforms (NCTR), has described the appointment of Abubakar Dan tsoho as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority as a strategic move by President Bola Tinubu to turn the maritime sector around for good.
Appointed in 2024, Dr. Dantsoho has implemented several reforms within a short period of time.
The group also lauded the administration of President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the comprehensive implementation of reforms in Nigeria’s maritime sector, saying the initiatives have begun repositioning the nation’s ports for greater efficiency, investment and economic growth.
The group said the reforms, anchored on infrastructure renewal, digital transformation and regulatory restructuring, have revitalised the Marine and Blue Economy, with positive implications for revenue generation, trade facilitation and employment.
Executive Director of the coalition, Dr. Richard Ocheje, stated this on Wednesday in a statement issued in Abuja.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has demonstrated commitment to overhauling Nigeria’s port system through sustained investments and policy reforms aimed at making the country’s seaports more competitive within the West and Central African maritime corridor.
The NCTR boss said the NPA under Dantsoho had embarked on reforms that have improved public confidence in the agency while advancing government’s broader port modernisation agenda.
“The MD has within a short time, given the NPA a brand new image. As a regulator, the agency has left no one in doubt that the man in charge is a square peg in a square hole,” he said.
On the broader reforms being championed by the present administration, Ocheje said,”The £746 million United Kingdom Financing Deal signed in March 2026 is expected to provide funding for the upgrade and modernisation of the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the Tin Can Island Port.
“We cannot forget in a hurry the $1 billion seaport reconstruction, an ambitious programme aimed at a total rehabilitation of five major seaports within 48 months. They include Apapa, Tin Can Island, Calabar, Warri, and Port Harcourt/Onne seaports.
“Do not forget that the Federal Government has gone a great distance in the development and certification for five new deep seaports in Badagry (Lagos), Olokola (Ondo), Ibom (Akwa Ibom), Bakassi (Cross River), and Bonny (Rivers) to increase cargo capacity,” he said.
The Tinubu administration has consistently identified the Marine and Blue Economy as a strategic sector capable of driving economic diversification, boosting non-oil revenue and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and international trade. Since the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023, government has embarked on reforms designed to modernise port infrastructure, improve cargo handling efficiency and attract greater private sector investment.
Ocheje also commended the Federal Government for embracing technology to improve port administration and facilitate trade, noting that the ongoing digitisation of port processes would significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
According to him, the implementation of the National Single Window represents a major milestone in simplifying cargo clearance procedures and enhancing operational efficiency.
“This digital platform is aimed at digitally integrating port operations and streamline cargo clearance, reducing vessel waiting and cargo turnaround times. No doubt, this will promote both efficiency and effectiveness,” he said.
On the regulatory front, Ocheje said the passage of the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill by the National Assembly underscored government’s determination to strengthen governance in the maritime sector.
He said the proposed legislation would establish an independent economic regulator with statutory powers to oversee port tariffs, monitor service delivery standards and promote transparency and competitiveness across Nigeria’s ports.
The coalition expressed optimism that the ongoing reforms, if sustained, would improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business, strengthen the country’s position as a regional maritime hub and unlock greater opportunities for investment, trade and economic development.