Nigeria is hosting the first African Regional conference of the International Association of Ports and Harbours(IAPH) in Abuja between September 17 and 19, 2019.
The conference with the theme:” African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity”, will be declared open by President Mohammadu Buhari under the chairmanship of the former head of state, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Briefing the media on Friday, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, who is also the African Regional Vice-President of IAPH said the theme was chosen in “Recognition of the importance of ease of cargo transfer from port to the destination of use. For ports in the region, I think their potentials is in the deployment of multi-modal means of transportation to ensure that cargoes are moved to the satisfaction of the clients.”
Hadiza, who was in August, 2017 elected the Vice-President, African Region of the association said she saw her election as an opportunity to offer quality representation to the continent to position the maritime sector for better efficiency.
Acknowledging that this is the first time Nigeria is being the Vice-President of the African Region, she noted that IAPH was formed 62 years ago to promote global interest of ports and to build strong member relationship where ideas and international statistics will be shared on how to improve port operation
“ We have seen the need for port stakeholders in the African continent to come together and chart a course for the collective development of our ports. I am happy to report that developments over the year have resulted in the first ever IAPH African Region Conference taking place in Nigeria with the theme: “African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity”’.
On the objectives of the regional conference, she explained it will provide a deeper understanding of the concept of port hinterland connectivity through the assemblage of key experts and stakeholders in the port logistics and transport industry.
Selected port authorities to speak are African ports with large captive and extended hinterlands, some of which connect to landlocked countries using road and rail modes. The port of Antwerp Authority which is reputed to be servicing one of the most diverse hinterlands with efficient connectivity will be there. Transnet National Port Authority of South Africa , Kenya Ports Authority, Douala Port Authority of Cameroun, Cotonou Port Authority, among others will be in attendance.
Speakers will be invited also from the World Trade Organisation(WTO), African Corridor Management Organisation, UNCTAD, World Bank, African Development Bank, African Union’s NEPAD Secretariat, among others.
