NPA to host African ports and harbour conference in September

Sam Ikeotuonye

25 July 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos — The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, would be hosting the International Association of Ports and Harbours, IAPH, Africa Regional Conference in Abuja from September 17 to 19.

According to information obtained from the Local Organising Committee, the theme for the conference which holds at the Transcorp Hilton will be “African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity”. It will draw key stakeholders in port and harbours from across the African continent and other parts of the world.

A statement by chairman of the organising committee, Mrs. Ugo Madubuike, said the conference would be declared open by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and that it “will assemble key experts and stakeholders in the port logistics and transport industry to provide a deeper understanding of the concept of port hinterland connectivity, assess the present landscape of Africa’s port sector and the challenges faced in hinterland connectivity”.

The statement explained that the conference theme will be discussed under four different categories, namely connectivity and port hinterlands: components, modal options; funding options for hinterland connectivity – hard and soft infrastructure; Africa’s ports landscape: infrastructure, governance models, and landlocked transit corridors as well as sustainability and facilitation of the logistics and transport supply chain

The International Association of Ports and Harbours, with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan was founded in 1955 as a global professional group for seaports operators across the world.

The Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman was elected Vice President, IAPH (Africa Region) in July 2017 after a keenly contested election with other heads of port authorities in Africa.

The conference will attract local participation from Nigeria’s maritime and trade sectors and international participation from key organisations like the World Trade Organisation, the International Maritime Organisation, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, various African trade corridors, including the Lagos Abidjan Trade Corridor and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Antwerp Port Authority, Guangzhou Port Authority and Port of Miami (Florida).

It will also attract African ports such as Transnet National Port Authority – South Africa, Kenya Ports Authority, Douala Port Authority – Cameroon, Cotonou Port Authority – Benin, Abidjan Port Authority – Cote d’Ivoire, Dakar Port Authority – Senegal, Tanger Med Port – Morocco and Port of Alexandria – Egypt.