The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, is set to declare open the Board of Directors meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Lagos.
The three-day meeting, scheduled for May 18 to 20, 2026, is being hosted by the Nigerian Ports Authority and will bring together maritime leaders and port administrators from across West and Central Africa to discuss the future of ports and regional maritime development.
With the theme, Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development, the meeting will focus on strengthening port infrastructure, improving logistics systems, boosting regional cooperation and ensuring that port growth delivers tangible benefits to host communities.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and chief host, Abubakar Dantsoho, described the gathering as an important platform for shaping the future of ports in the sub-region. Dantsoho, the first Nigerian to serve as President of PMAWCA, said the meeting would give stakeholders the opportunity to reaffirm the strategic role ports play in global trade and economic development.
He said ports remain gateways to prosperity, connecting nations to international markets and serving as engines of economic integration and sustainable growth. According to him, the sustainability of the global economy is closely tied to the resilience and efficiency of ports, especially in West and Central Africa.
Dantsoho assured participants of a conducive environment for meaningful engagement and policy discussions that would strengthen maritime cooperation and regional development.
The meeting is expected to cover port security, infrastructure development, trade connectivity and new strategies for building future-ready ports in the face of evolving global challenges. It will also include reviews of PMAWCA midterm committee activities and broader discussions on collaboration among member ports.
The Lagos meeting further underscores Nigeria’s growing leadership in the regional maritime sector, following the country’s hosting of the 43rd PMAWCA Annual Council and Managing Directors’ Roundtable in 2023.