Dantsoho’s Election As IAPH Vice- President, Africa: What Relevance To Nigeria’s Maritime Industry?

Nigeria, again, has been dominating media headlines in international trade and maritime transport with the election of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as Vice -President of the International Association of Ports and Harbour(IAPH), Africa.

Dantsoho is the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA).

Two months ago, it was the turn of the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, who emerged the Chairperson of the World Customs Organization(WCO) Council.

These feats are not a fluke- unexpected strokes of good luck. What then could be the reason?

Analysts have also not unanimously agreed as promoted that they are a function of government’s reform programmes in the sector.

While the debate rages, Dantsoho has been receiving congratulatory messages from across the globe and Nigeria in particular.

The election, which held in Tokyo, Japan, marks another milestone for Dantsoho, who recently had made history as the first Nigerian to lead the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa(PMAWCA) since its establishment in1972.

In a statement on Tuesday, NPA’s image- maker, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara said the election reflects international recognition of Nigeria’s renewed leadership in maritime development.
He said the IAPH Secretary General, Masahiko Furuichi also welcome the development, saying, “I am delighted to work together with you in IAPH for the years to come”.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, congratulated Dr. Dantsoho on his election as VP, Africa, IAPH.

He said the President thanked the IAPH members for the confidence reposed in Dantsoho by entrusting him with the position, just as they did in 2017, when Hadiza Bala-Usman, one of Dantsoho’s predecessors, was elected.

President Tinubu was optimistic that the election of the NPA Managing Director would boost Nigeria’s ambition to tap into the global marine and blue economy.

He encouraged Dantsoho to sustain his efforts to reposition the NPA, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s goal of expanding its economy to $1 trillion by 2030.

Also, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has congratulated Dantsoho on his election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola described the election as a testament to Dantsoho’s outstanding leadership and a global recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in maritime affairs.

The Minister noted that the development is a direct reflection of the significant strides made under the Federal Government’s port modernisation programme.

“This election is a recognition of the ongoing reforms to reposition Nigerian ports and blue economy drive of the Federal Government”, Oyetola stated, adding, “It validates our commitment to creating a more efficient, secure, and competitive maritime environment, which is a key component of our national economic strategy”.

Founded in 1955, with headquarters in Tokyo, IAPH is a global alliance of more than 300 ports and port-related businesses across 90 countries. Its members handle over 60% of the global seaborne trade and container traffic. The body plays a key role in shaping maritime policy, working closely with the international Maritime Organization(IMO), WCO and the United Nations agencies.

Similarly, the MMS WoFHoF Initiative, a gender inclusivity and equality-centric non-governmental organization(NGO),has congratulated Dantsoho on his election, describing the feat as a product of effective maritime diplomacy and exceptional leadership.

In a statement issued by the Co-founder/CEO of MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, “Dr. Dantsoho’s election is a testament of a sustained legacy of transparency and accountability in NPA.

“This new culture which has made the agency scandal and internal friction-free resonate stability and renewed focus on key mandates and determination for performance delivery.

“These do not only bring about new positive image and reputation, but align with the expectations of the international and local stakeholders as well as potential investors.

MMS WoFHoF Initiative, converners of the MMS Hall of Fame, made up of women of substance in the maritime and other sectors of the economy, commended Dantsoho and his team of management over their leadership style that promotes team work, accountability, collaboration, employee motivation and zero- contract scandal.

The body of influencial women across sectors and countries,recalled that the bane of leadership in NPA before now used to be scandalous contract awards but the current Dantsoho-led leadership shifted the paradigm by developing, sustaining accountability and engagement in contract awards.

While commending the agency’s support for gender inclusivity causes in the industry, the NGO called on the leadership to deploy its results-oriented maritime diplomacy to combat transnational crimes; sex and gender-based violence(SGBV) gaining grounds in the maritime domain.

Anaroke noted that this new found voice- “maritime diplomacy enables collaborative efforts with partners to address maritime crimes such as drug peddling, human trafficking, and illegal fishing.”

MMS Plus reports that there is a consensus opinion among some maritime stakeholders that Dantsoho’s election at IAPH and PMAWCA as well as CGC Adewale Adeniyi’s recent election in WCO are combined efficacy of effective leadership, sustained positive reputation and right maritime diplomacy.

Ports and Customs modernisation efforts played important role but without the significant exceptional leadership values added, the reforms alone could not have done it, after all, every sector has one ongoing reform or another.

Effective diplomatic engagement allows the agency or Nigeria to build strategic alliances and partnerships, fostering exchange of ideas and the implementation of relevant maritime statutes and conventions at the continental levels.

Industry observers have also noted that Dantsoho is a good baton-holder in the NPA leadership relay- race which changed for a radical transformation with impact under Hadiza Bala-Usman through Mohammed Koko as predecessors to the current leader.

In concrete terms, Dantsoho’s leadership has been marked by significant rise in non-oil exports and an improved trade balance. Non-oil exports rose by 19.59% in the first half 2025 to $3.225billon, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC). On NPA platforms, export volumes climbed to 4.04million metric tonnes, signifying commitment to economic diversification.

While Dantsoho is a complete product of NPA, with technical and political exposure to manage the agency, he has a crack team of technocrats from diverse professions as Board members and management team.They lend their unwavering support, always.

The administrative and financial management wizardry of the successive banking technocrats cannot be wished away in the new found reputation of NPA. It provided dynamism and inclusivity, especially with the person of the Executive Director of Administration and Finance, Mrs. Vivian Richard-Edet, who is dubbed “Madam integrity”. Before Richard-Edet, were Ms. Adenrele Adesina and Mohammed Koko, who would later become the CEO.

While it could be said that NPA is in good hands, the prevailing stability within is also a function of the support from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and President Bola Tinubu as well as the media.

However, Dantsoho is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear to make impactful contributions to IAPH, while leveraging the global platform to amplify Nigeria’s voice in global policy debates and engender deeper international collaboration.